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By Zendelle Bouchard
Sanford city officials have outlined some of the next steps for addressing problems caused by homeless individuals with chronic substance abuse disorder who have refused housing and other services. The resolution adopted by the Council at its last meeting (see that story) is the first step in a detailed plan formulated with input from community partners who work with the city on the Homeless Task Force and the Overdose Task Force.
In their reports to the City Council on Oct. 21, Mayor Becky Brink and City Manager Steve Buck spoke about a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) developed with the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Maine Access Points (MAP), the organization responsible for providing free clean syringes to addicts in Sanford. Under the terms of the MOU, MAP will stop supplying needles and drug paraphernalia by Dec. 5 but will continue to provide counseling and treatment referrals as well as wound care.
If MAP hasn’t signed the MOU by the next Council meeting, Brink said the Council would bring forward a second resolution.
In addition to addressing the issue of discarded needles directly, city officials are also tackling it indirectly, by proposing an amendment to Article 158-4Article 158-4 of the city ordinances. The amendment would prohibit loitering in city parks from dusk to dawn. Currently, loitering in parks, cemeteries and on school properties is prohibited from 11 pm to 5 am. Brink clarified that residents would still be able to walk through the parks at night, but could not loiter. https://ecode360.com/9238581
Buck said he is also continuing to work on plans for the annual Legislative Forum which will be held at the Sanford Performing Arts Center on Dec. 5. In addition to presentations on housing and general assistance, York County legislators in attendance will hear how gaps in funding for substance abuse and mental health treatment are fueling recidivism and impacting our communities and residents.
Buck also told the Council that York County District Attorney Kathryn Slattery has set up a meeting with at least one judge to discuss a structured release program that will provide medication assisted treatment to addicted inmates at York County Jail. A successful program using Sublocade, a 30-day injectable medication, is already in place at Somerset County Jail and is being considered by Franklin and Cumberland Counties as well.
The post City’s Next Steps for Addressing Drug Issues appeared first on Sanford Springvale News.
