The Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission is receiving a grant to help coordinate criminal justice diversion programs for individuals dealing with opioid addiction.
The Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission will receive $306,254 from the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. The funds are part of $1.5 million the state agency is awarding and comes from federal funds designed to combat substance abuse and mental health disorders.
The funds will foster collaboration with local police departments, the district attorney, and treatment providers to provide coordinated treatment and support services for those whose criminal behavior is linked to their substance use disorder, state officials said.
“Drug courts and police diversion programs are successful nationwide at rehabilitating individuals and breaking the cycle of recidivism,” Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Jennifer Smith said. “I look forward to learning about each program’s success and the lives impacted throughout their local communities.”
Gov. Tom Wolf said in a statement that those with opioid use disorder often have involvement with the criminal justice system. He said throwing someone in jail often does not address the underlying issue.
“These grants will help establish new programs to provide an alternative to incarceration and potentially get more people into treatment and recovery,” he said.
