Angel Initiative uses law enforcement to help people with substance abuse get treatment

The Cascade County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday that it has launched the Angel Initiative, a program that uses law enforcement to connect people with substance abuse problems to treatment agencies.

Community members struggling with substance abuse of any kind can now walk into the sheriff’s office and immediately be connected with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to receive treatment. Participants will not face consequences or questions in most cases, but there are some disqualifying criteria.

Potential participants will be run for warrants, and those with outstanding arrest warrants are not eligible. Slaughter said those with minor warrants may qualify on a case-by-case basis.

Unaccompanied minors and registered sex offenders are not eligible. If there is a reasonable belief that the participant may harm the coordinator or others, he or she is disqualified. Participation must be voluntary and not court-ordered.

Once the participant is screened for disqualifiers, staff will get a photo ID and insurance if available. The participant is required to turn over any drugs or drug paraphernalia they are carrying before being connected with treatment, and Slaughter said no charges will be filed if the amount is not more than the limit for personal use.

For participants who are on probation or parole, Slaughter said they should notify their probation officer that they are going for voluntary treatment.

CCSO is the first sheriff’s office in Montana to partner with the state on the Angel Initiative, a public/private collaboration funded as part of the Healing and Ending Addiction Through Recovery and Treatment (HEART) fund. Gov. Greg Gianforte, who spoke at the news conference, said HEART was the largest single new expenditure in the state's budget this year.

The fund takes marijuana tax revenue and part of the tobacco tax settlement and puts it toward substance abuse prevention and treatment. Gianforte said HEART fills coverage gaps that reduce the effectiveness of existing programs.

Gianforte gave statistics on the high death rates from methamphetamines and the increases in overdose calls, mostly from opioids.

“Our shared hope, of course, is that we’ll save lives, and I’m confident that the Angel Initiative will do just that,” he said.

DPHHS Director Adam Meier said he’s seen firsthand how similar programs have worked in other states. His office will provide training for staff who are coordinating treatment. In addition to Cascade County, around 20 other law enforcement offices throughout the state will be receiving training in November and December, and their sites should all be full participants by Jan. 1, 2022.

“There’s a tremendous need here,” Meier said. “We have committed partners, we have community leadership, so I think everything is really coming together here.”

Lenette Kosovich, CEO of the Rimrock treatment center in Billings, said 35 treatment providers are on board with the Angel Initiative. Once a participant qualifies, law enforcement will call the Angel Hotline.

Rimrock has picked up the tab for the 24-hour hotline, which will be staffed with professionals who can screen participants, find them a provider and get them to treatment. Kosovich said with so many providers, the program is not likely to overload any one treatment center.

“Having an addiction is really complicated and difficult,” said Kosovich. “Whether the barriers to seek treatment are real or perceived, they are barriers that appear insurmountable. That’s why this Angel Initiative is so important.”

When he found out about the Angel Initiative, Slaughter said, “I was very excited because most people suffering from addiction in our community are only getting treatment through the drug treatment court or, typically, through a court order. Far too often, that type of treatment is not successful, and they continue to abuse drugs.”

Slaughter said other treatment programs are about enabling people with addictions, but the Angel Initiative is about empowering them. Participants, Slaughter said, are choosing to seek help and are more likely to have more successful outcomes.

Slaughter said his office’s participation in the program is part of his election promise to address the drug trade in Cascade County. He said CCSO has also implemented a drug detection K9 program, body scans at the Cascade County Detention Center, assigned a school resource officer to county schools and assigned a detective to a Drug-Endangered Children Program.

CCSO has been involved with drug treatment courts, the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and the creation of a Violent Crimes Task Force, as well.

Once the enforcement programs were up and running, Slaughter said his office began diversion programs in the jail such as a medically-assisted treatment program and Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous programs.

The Angel Initiative represents the next step.

Representatives from multiple agencies were present at the news conference, including CCSO, Montana Probation and Parole, Montana Department of Corrections, Montana legislature, Cascade County District Court, Cascade County Attorney’s Office, the mayor’s office, city and county commissions, Alluvion Health and Victim Witness Services.

Criminal justice reporter Traci Rosenbaum reports on law enforcement issues for the Tribune. Reach her at trosenbaum@greatfallstribune.com or 406-791-1490.

Follow her on Twitter @GFTrib_TRosenba.

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This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Angel Initiative will connect people with substance abuse treatment