Hampden County Addiction Task Force (HCAT)
Founded by District Attorney Gulluni, the task force is a collaboration of community resources, law enforcement (local and state), health care institutions, service providers and community coalitions whose goal is to focus on a county wide approach to addressing drug overdoses, addiction and prevention. At present, the taskforce is focused on: real time data collection; study and assess the necessary treatment beds needed county wide; develop standardized messaging for addiction and addiction related issues; provide a forum for law enforcement, health care institutions, service providers, schools and community coalitions to share best practices in prevention and education; and leverage existing assets in seeking out new funding opportunities, county wide for addiction prevention.
Hampden County Prescription Drug Return System
14 prescription drug return boxes have been deployed throughout Hampden County which allows for residents to dispose of unused or unwanted medications. In collaboration with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and twelve local police chiefs, the system provides a secure means to dispose of medications and transport them to the incinerator in Agawam for proper disposal.
National Guard Counter Drug Program
The program allows the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office and Massachusetts State Police in Hampden County to utilize Massachusetts National Guard and Department of Defense resources in support of the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office’s efforts in fighting drug trafficking and distribution in the region. This partnership of federal and local resources is the first of its kind, and is likely to serve as a model for other jurisdictions in the future.
