The drug epidemic has become a major problem for Methuen, Massachusetts. Following a lead from other Bay State departments, police in the community are changing their policy for dealing with those addicted to opioids.
"The youngest overdose we've seen is 14 years old, the oldest overdose we've seen is 60 in our city," said Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon. "We've seen a few multiple repeats."
Solomon says the city has seen 72 overdoses already this year - a number that has doubled from 2014.
Now, police are putting down the handcuffs and hiring two part-time workers trained in getting drug offenders the help they need.
"So the goal will be to do community outreach," said Solomon.
The search for the two workers has already begun after approval came from Mayor Steven Zanni, who says his nephew dealt with an addiction to drugs.
He was lucky to receive help.
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"Thank God that that treatment did help him an awful lot, and he is currently, right now, not an addict," said Zanni. "It affects all walks of life."
Methuen Police will have people on their team, hoping to make the same impact. The two position will run the city $45,000 a year, Solomon says it's well worth it.
"Whatever the cost is, one family, one person we save, is just phenomenal," he said.
