Drug Overdose Information
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Drug and alcohol addiction has no borders. It affects every community and every demographic. Mattapoisett is no exception, for that reason the Mattapoisett Police Department has teamed up with Project Outreach to assist you and your family with identifying and/or dealing with a loved one or someone close to you that may have or may be developing an addiction problem with either drugs or alcohol.
Project Outreach is a collaboration of Public Safety Agencies and Healthcare Providers created to respond to the ever-growing number of opiate overdoses by conducting follow-up visits within 12-24 hours after an overdose. The program is not limited to those addicted to opiates.
For helpful information on drug addiction and a list of participating agencies and resources click the following link: Drug Overdose/ Addiction Information.
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Massachusetts General Law Chapter 123 Sections 12 & 35 deal with Court Ordered Treatment for Mental Health (Section 12) and Substance Abuse (section 35) issues. These are involuntary commitments for inpatient care of a person with an alcohol or substance use disorder in a facility licensed or approved by the Department of Public Health or the Department of Mental Health for a period of up to, but not to exceed 90 days. The following links will assist you in getting your loved ones the help they need.
- Section 35 FAQ
- How to write an effective Section 35 petition
- Section 35 form (substance abuse)
- Section 12 form (mental health)
These forms can be filled out and submitted to the Office of the Clerk Magistrate at the Wareham District Court or any District Court whose jurisdiction where you may reside. These documents will be reviewed by a Judge and Medical Clinician who will determine a course of action and will in most cases issue a Court Order for an individual to be committed for Court Ordered Treatment for a specific period of time. This can be done without the services of an attorney.
In the event that you would like to speak with someone confidentially concerning a loved one, or would like to request further information, please call the Mattapoisett Police Department at 508-758-4141.