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 The National Honor Society of LCHS will be helping
serve that night as well. Culver’s will donate 10 percent of all
sales during that time span – eating inside, drive-through or
carry-outs all apply, - to the Lincoln Police Department for the
Safe Passages Initiative Program, led by Officer Christy Fruge, who
also plans on being present. This program is a part of the Logan
County Opioid Task Force of which St. John has been a participating
support since February 21, 2016 .with the creation of the Narcan
project for Lincoln Squad cars. Now that that program is being
funded within the city budget the need for Safe Passages funds has
become our focus.
The Safe Passages Initiative is a revolutionary new policing program
aimed at getting people suffering from addiction the help they need,
instead of putting them in handcuffs. Safe Passages is changing the
way the Lincoln Police handles addicts who request help with their
addiction.
This resource in Logan County is for anyone with a substance abuse
problem. That person can go the Lincoln Police Department and
request help to overcome their addiction. No one is turned away and
from that moment help is the priority for anyone who seeks it. Each
person is then paired with a driver from the list of volunteers who
will transport them along with whatever provisions are
needed/required. Some of the facilities require 2 days of clothing
change, 5 toiletry articles and personal meds.. If there is a long
span of time before departure the person going to treatment will be
taken care of, fed and made comfortable before heading to treatment.
If necessary, clothing, toiletries, meds and food are paid for out
of the Safe Passages account. Along with fuel cards to cover gas for
the drivers.
Because Logan County does not have a facility for addiction, the
Safe Passages program uses several treatment centers in Illinois.
Some as close as Peoria or further as the Quad Cities. The Lincoln
Police Department facilitate entry to the treatment facility and
acts as a support system for the person in need.
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If there are drugs or paraphernalia in the home, or
with the person seeking treatment, arrangements are made to dispose
of it properly.
Once dropped at the treatment center, the Lincoln
Police Department continues to monitor the progress of the patient
within the limitations of the privacy laws of the treatment centers.
To date 13 people have sought help for their addictions.
Questions regarding this project can be directed to St. John project
coordinator Tonita Reifsteck 732-9796 or 855-1645. Officer Fruge
will be sharing informational material at Culver’s and is also
available at the Lincoln Police Department on Fifth Street in
Lincoln.
Community support has helped St. John UCC make both the Narcan and
this program work and Sunday, March 17th will be another chance to
help those struggling with addiction. Questions regarding this
article can be directed to Officer Christy Fruge at Lincoln Police
Department or Tonita Reifsteck 855-1645
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