Mayor Carlo DeMaria announced a new City of Everett initiative, the “Road to Recovery.” This program is coordinated by the City of Everett Mayor’s Office, Everett Public Health Department, Everett Fire Department and Everett Police Department. The initiative helps individuals who are seeking assistance to overcome the disease of opioid addiction, which has claimed numerous lives in the City of Everett and thousands nationwide in 2017.
This new program was introduced to the Mayor by Lori Tammaro. Lori is a city employee who knows firsthand the dangers of addiction having lost her son Stephen. Lori has been an advocate for increased public awareness and helping individuals seek treatment for problems with addiction.
Mayor DeMaria stated “I want to thank Lori for her strong advocacy in helping the victims of this terrible disease. Her passion and determination is saving lives. Lori and I both believe we simply can no longer afford the loss of potential and the devastating impact that this epidemic has on our city everyday”
Mayor DeMaria also announced the hiring of Dennis Doris as the Program Coordinator for the “Roadmap to Recovery” program. Doris, in his primary role, serves as Recovery Coach seeking referrals from the Everett Police Department Special Criminal Investigation Unit, in addition to referrals from other departments and residents looking for direction in breaking away from narcotics addiction. These referrals will offer help to individuals seeking treatment.
Dennis will be available for consultation at the Shute Library on Thursdays from 3:00PM to 7:00PM and Tuesdays from 11:00AM to 3:00PM. Consultations and the Roadmaps to Recovery are free. Dennis Doris can also be contacted at 978-999-2050 or email at HYPERLINK “mailto:[email protected]”[email protected]
Chief Mazzie said: “We hope to tap into the relationships that our officers have developed over the long haul and try to connect those that need help with people like Dennis, so that they can start talking about recovery. Our work in building trust for years now should make it clear we want to help people and this is another example why they should have nothing to fear from us if they want a chance to change their lives.”
The City of Everett is committed to improving the health and safety of all residents combating the disease of addiction.
In February, Mayor Carlo DeMaria hired the City of Everett’s first-ever Substance Abuse Clinician, Tori Cyrus. Since that time, Ms. Cyrus has been working with the Fire and Health Departments as well as other City Agencies in assistance with the substance abuse epidemic.
The DeMaria Administration has also the integrated the national Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) model into overall prevention systems by hiring a Program Coordinator to oversee and coordinate grant-supported programming in youth prescription drug misuse prevention. The coordinator, Paul Guarino, is paid through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). Mr. Guarino works out of the Health Department and focuses on implementing local policy, practice, systems, and environmental changes to prevent past 30-day use of prescription drugs and alcohol among high school-aged youth.
In addition, the Mayor and City Council have partnered with Cambridge Health Alliance, Everett Overcoming Addiction, and the Everett Community Partnership – Substance Coalition to address the problem while promoting positive health and well-being behavior.