How to Build Partnerships between Law Enforcement and Public Health Agencies to Address Opioid Use

This conference workshop presentation highlights some of the nation's most successful programs and partnerships between law enforcement and the public health community in addressing the opioid epidemic, namely the ANGEL Program out of Gloucester, Massachusetts and the LEAD Program, out of Seattle, Washington. More U.S. citizens now die from drug overdoses than from motor vehicle crashes. The national dialogue about how to treat persons with addiction has increasingly shifted to focus on treatment rather than punishment. The presentation focuses on how other agencies can develop similar successful partnerships based on some of the lessons learned and best practices set forth by highlighted initiatives.