**Media Advisory** Congressman Seth Moulton and Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello to Hold Press Conference in D.C. on the Fight Against Opiate Use, Wednesday

For Immediate Release

Wednsday, May 13, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil (Gloucester Police)
Phone: 978-865-4110

Contact: Carrie Rankin (Moulton)
Phone: 617.485.4544
Email: Carrie.Rankin@mail.house.gov

**Media Advisory**
Congressman Seth Moulton and Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello to Hold Press Conference in D.C. on the Fight Against Opiate Use, Wednesday

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This afternoon, Congressman Seth Moulton will meet with Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello to discuss the Chief’s significant efforts to fight opiate use and addiction in Gloucester. Following their meeting, Moulton and Campanello will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. at the House Elm Tree (East Front Capitol) in Washington D.C.

Chief Campanello is in on a two-day trip to Washington D.C. to talk with members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation about his plan to give addicts who surrender drugs immediate support, without any legal action.

WHO

Congressman Seth Moulton
Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello

WHAT

Press conference to discuss efforts to reduce opiate use and addiction.

WHEN

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

1 p.m.

WHERE

House Elm Tree (East Front Capitol)
Washington, D.C.

BACKGROUND:

Original media release from May 5:

In a historic shift in police drug policy, Police Chief Leonard Campanello announced at a citywide forum that the Gloucester Police Department is implementing major changes to the way it handles the opioid and drug epidemic that has swept through every community in the nation.

The Gloucester Police Department will implement the following measures, beginning in June:

1. Any addict who walks into the police station with the remainder of their drug equipment (needles, etc.) or drugs and asks for help will NOT be charged. Instead, Gloucester Police will walk them through the system toward detox and recovery.

“We will assign them an ‘angel’ who will be their guide through the process. Not in hours or days, but on the spot,” Chief Campanello said.

Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester and Lahey Clinic have committed to helping fast track people that walk into the police department so that they can be assessed rapidly and the proper care can be administered quickly.

2. Nasal Narcan has just been made available at local pharmacies without a prescription. The police department has entered into an agreement with Conley’s Drug Store and is working on one with CVS that will allow anyone access to the drug at little to no cost regardless of their insurance.

“The police department will pay the cost of nasal narcan for those without insurance,” Chief Campanello said. “We will pay for it with money seized from drug dealers during investigations. We will save lives with the money from the pockets of those who would take them. We recognize that nasal narcan is not the answer, but it is saving lives and no one in this City will be denied a life saving drug for this disease just because of a lack of insurance. Conley’s has also agreed to assist with insurance requests from those who do not have any.”

3. Chief Campanello will travel to Washington,D.C. with the support of Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, the City Council, Senator Bruce Tarr, and Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante, on May 12 and 13.

There, he will meet with Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and Congressman Seth Moulton.

“I will bring what Gloucester is accomplishing and challenge them to change at the federal level how we receive aid, support and assistance,” Chief Campanello said. “I will bring the idea of how far Gloucester is willing to go to fight this disease and will ask them to hold federal agencies, insurance companies and businesses accountable for building a support system that can eradicate opiate addiction and provide long term, sustainable support to reduce recidivism.”

Chief Campanello plans to lobby the Federal Government to increase the share of monies seized from drug dealers that is given to local communities, earmarking it for recovery and prevention services.

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