Introduction

Welcome to PAARI's new Resource Page, your one-stop hub for updated tools, guides, and one-pagers tailored for our law enforcement partners and agencies. Here, you'll find valuable resources to support non-arrest pathways to addiction treatment and recovery, along with the latest best practices, funding opportunities, and training materials. Stay connected and check back regularly as we continue to update links and provide the most relevant materials to help you make an impact in your community. Let’s work together to create life-saving change!

PAARI Resources

2024 Annual Report

Our 2024 Annual Report showcases key highlights of PAARI’s impact in 2024. PAARI accomplished a lot in 2024, and this report shows how we continue to grow. We’re expanding our network and sharing resources with over 800 public safety departments in 46 states across the US.

Learn more about the ways PAARI continue to make an impact across the country.

Download

PAARI One-Pager

The Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative (PAARI) is a non-profit organization that supports law enforcement agencies in developing non-arrest addiction referral programs. PAARI aims to change the conversation around addiction, viewing it as a disease rather than a crime, and provides resources such as technical assistance, training and policy templates to help law enforcement and public safety agencies implement these programs. This one-pager provides a brief overview PAARI's beginnings and continued work in the field of police and public safety deflection and diversion. Since its inception in 2015, PAARI has collaborated with 800 law enforcement partners across 46 states and Canada, and has distributed over 17,000 doses of naloxone.

Download

Standards for Deflection Data Collection

The field of deflection includes a wide variety of programs and community initiatives that aim to intervene early to redirect individuals away from the criminal justice system and into treatment and supportive services. The field has grown significantly in the past decade, in part due to the development of collaborative law enforcement/public health programs that provide support to individuals who have overdosed or those at risk of overdose. Because deflection is a wide field, and initiatives have many different structures in place, it can be challenging to discuss the impact of the field. Data collection approaches vary from site-to-site, and there are few sources of programmatic deflection data that can be aggregated for a multisite approach.

Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative (PAARI) and our law enforcement partners are working towards a collective vision where deflection and non-arrest diversion programs are a standard practice across the country. To help support this vision, we have convened experienced researchers and evaluators from the field of deflection, as well as PAARI partners, to develop and recommend a set of standards for programmatic data collection. We hope that making steps to standardize data collection and reporting across sites will help PAARI and our partners articulate the value of these interventions.

Download

Guide to Compassionate Death Notifications

The PAARI Lived Experience Council suggested that law enforcement officers might benefit from additional guidance on death notifications to families and friends who had lost a loved one to a drug overdose. A survey conducted by PAARI confirmed that over 50% of individuals (n=134) who have received an overdose death notification from police rate their experience a 1 out of 5, with 1 being poor and 5 being excellent. While 84% of respondents said the notifying party had not provided any resources at the time of notification, the most common resource requested was grief support information. Tactical Gear and Police Chief Magazine have written comprehensive death notification guides. However, we tailored this guide to address notifications made in the event of an overdose and incorporated the feedback from our Lived Experience Council and the survey respondents. Below is an outline of steps to guide you through the difficult task of death notifications and provides guidance on compassionate delivery, responses, and follow-up.

Download Digital Version

Download Printable Version

Embedding a Social Worker Within Your Police Department

Is your department considering hiring a social worker for the first time? Or have you already hired a social worker and you are looking for guidance? Check out our new guide on best practices for embedding social workers.

PAARI teamed up with the National Association of Social Workers and currently embedded social workers in Jeffersontown, KY to create the "Best Practices for Embedding a Social Worker in your Police Department."

About social work: Social work is a profession in which trained professionals are devoted to helping vulnerable people and communities work through challenges they face. A team approach of both sworn officers and trained social workers allows for a more holistic approach to meet the needs of individuals and the community to minimize the risks in the moment and begin to address the larger picture.

Download Digital Version

Download Printable Version

Addressing Overdose Deaths After Drug Seizures

This guide focuses on the relationship between illicit drug seizures and overdose rates and provides guidance on how communities can respond to drug seizures to mitigate overdose risks. It emphasizes the importance of communication between law enforcement and outreach teams and outlines steps communities can take following seizures, such as increasing community outreach, Narcan and fentanyl test strip distribution, and public alerts about the dangers of decreased tolerance and using drugs from unknown sources.

This guide shows how law enforcement and public/behavioral health can provide a cohesive response to mitigate supply and demand for drugs.

Download

Intro to Deflection Guide

Deflection is a nationwide policing and first responder movement to reduce criminal justice involvement for individuals with substance use disorder and mental illness.

This one pager introduces deflection and explains the difference between deflection and diversion.

You'll learn about the different stages of Deflection & Sequential Intercept Mapping, the benefits of deflection, and how PAARI supports law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Download

Rural & Small Communities Resource Guide

This guide offers tailored strategies and resources for rural and small communities combating opioid use disorder. Key sections include:

Program Examples: Proven rural initiatives like Harris County's Telehealth and Pennsylvania’s Addiction Recovery Mobile Outreach, showcasing innovative approaches for limited-resource settings.
Action Steps for Leaders: Practical guidance on building partnerships, addressing stigma, assessing local needs, and establishing effective substance use support.
Funding & Educational Resources: Information on grants, state-specific opioid settlement funds, and training materials to support community-driven prevention and treatment.

This concise guide empowers rural leaders with effective, evidence-based tools for addressing substance use challenges in their communities.

Download

Xylazine Project

The White House Drug Czar declared xylazine an ‘Emerging Threat’ on April 12, 2023. Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer and not approved for use in humans

Learn about Xylazine and some key information regarding exposure, wounds, and response.

This one pager dives into the facts, signs of exposure, the stages of xylazine wounds, and the response to Xylazine. It also includes important takeaways on how to care for Xylazine woulds in the early to intermediate stages.

Download

Page updated

Report abuse