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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW String of car break-ins reported in Ashland ... Should president nominate a Supreme Court justice? ... Wild Side: Cold fine for polar bears, but others like it hot ... String of car break-ins reported in Ashland ... Should president nominate a Supreme Court justice? ... Wild Side: Cold fine for polar bears, but others like it hot ... OUR VIEW Our View: Help, not handcuffs Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 16, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 16, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News It's easy to pay lip service to the notion that drug abusers benefit more from treatment, not incarceration. For a law enforcement agency, it can be harder to take that stand. Not, fortunately, for the Ashland Police Department. In December, the department quietly began a new approach. If you walk into police headquarters, surrender your drugs and ask for help, that's what you will get: help, not handcuffs. Drug-treatment caseworkers will respond, evaluate you and steer you into detox, counseling or residential treatment, depending on your needs and circumstances, and no criminal charges will be filed. On March 1, after Chief Tighe O'Meara is able to finalize contracts with drug-treatment agencies such as OnTrack, the amnesty policy will become official, and Ashland will become the first city in Oregon to adopt it. The program started last year in Gloucester, Mass., population 29,000. Since then, the New York Times reported, 56 other police departments have followed suit, and 400 addicts have turned themselves in. The Gloucester police chief started the program against the wishes of the district attorney, who told him police don't have the authority to offer amnesty. The police maintain they can exercise discretion in enforcement. O'Meara emphasizes that people in Ashland will still be arrested for drug possession anywhere except in the police department. But if they walk in and turn in their drugs, they can get help. This program alone won't end opioid addiction. But it may help some into recovery, and could save lives along the way. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 16, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501