In Lorain County three more people died from heroin overdoses in just the last week, now police are teaming up to try and help addicts on the road to recovery.
Overdoses, and break-ins as heroin addicts look for money to feed their addiction.
It all puts a strain on police departments in Lorain County.
Now, those police departments want to help addicts, who want help.
"Really the goal isn't to lock a bunch of people away, it's to get them back on the right track, and get them off the heroin,” said Lieutenant Ed Super with the Lorain Police Department.
The Lorain County Police Assisted Addiction Initiative allows heroin addicts to show up in police department lobbies and ask for help without fear of being arrested.
A trained volunteer would be called to the police department within an hour, and they would help the addict get into a treatment program.
"The goal is to open up as many doors as we can in Lorain County for addicts to walk through to start their journey to recovery,” said Elaine Georgas, Director of Alcohol and Drug Services of Lorain County. ‘
Georgas said most Lorain County police departments are involved, and that relatives of those struggling with addiction can also turn to police department lobbies.
"Also, it supports family members, who are struggling with addiction in their family, it might help them understand what they can do," Georgas said.
65 people died from heroin overdoses in Lorain County just last year.
