The Ocala Police Department has a fresh new policy on how to deal with some of Florida’s drug addicts: they help them find help. The Ocala P.D. started the Heroin/Opioid Amnesty Program in February, and so far they’ve said they’ve had 10 people come to them for help. In April 2018, Joshua, 33, was told about the program through his sister. He said he had a drug problem ever since he was 13 years old, and he was worried that his drug problems were going to kill him. However, as he lived on the fringes of society, he was afraid about going to any program the cops were offering, let alone to the station to ask them for help. He eventually gathered the nerve to go, and is now in a residential care program at The Centers, a mental health and substance abuse recovery center.
Four months after the Ocala Police Department started the Heroin/Opioid Amnesty Program, officials say they have had 10 people ask for help.
Anyone who is addicted to any drug can call or come into the police department and ask for help.
In April, 33-year-old Joshua, who did not want to give out his last name, says his sister recommended the program.
He says he has had a bad drug addiction since he was about 13 years old.
“When my sister told me the amnesty program was through the Ocala Police Department, my first thought was, ‘Absolutely not, I’m not doing that’ I’ve lived a different lifestyle than mainstream society and it scared me,” he shared. “I thought that it was a trap but I knew I needed help and I knew I was going to die.” Officers take participants to The Centers, a mental health and substance abuse provider. Click Here to Continue Reading