PEKIN, Ill. — September is National Recovery Month.
Pekin Public Information Officer Billie Ingles says residents wanting to get into an addiction recovery program can come to the police station to turn their drugs in without fear of being arrested.
“They can turn over their drugs, paraphernalia, anything like that, and not be charged for it,” Ingles said.
The Safe Passage Initiative, a recovery program from the Gateway Foundation, started in Lee County, Illinois.
Pekin Police got involved with program in 2016, when Chief John Dossey joined the department.
Once they turn in their drugs and/or paraphernalia, Pekin residents can get immediate assistance through the Pekin location of Gateway, starting treatment within 48 hours.
“They’re not going to have it when they get out of rehab. Which gives them a step up, because obviously if they still have it in their house, it’s going to be available to them, and they’re going to want to use more,” Ingles said.
For information about the Safe Passage Initiative from the Gateway Foundation, click HERE.
Here is the interview with Officer Ingles.
