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FAN’s Hope Not Handcuffs changing lives in Wayne

By Sarah Shurge Not Handcuffs’ system, a recovery
Sometimes one decision can coach will be assigned to them along
change your life; like making the de- with a family recovery coach after
cision to get help. It might not seem they are out of recovery and in hous-
like a huge decision, but it is the first ing.
and most important step towards “It’s not just getting them into
the path of a better life for yourself. treatment, it’s giving them what they
That is what Hope Not Handcuffs need to not relapse,” said Mack.
is about. Being there for individuals In 2020, nearly 255 people died
that take that first important step, from drug overdose every day in the
and helping them with the hard United States. That is almost 11 peo-
steps to follow. ple every hour. Since February 1,
Hope Not Handcuffs was started 2017, 6,214 people have been given
by Families Against Narcotics (FAN) hope through Hope Not Handcuffs.
with the mission to bring law en- Every month FAN puts on forums
forcement and community organiza- to spread information and offer a
tions together in an effort to find network of support to those affected
treatment options for individuals by addiction. Experts and guest
seeking help to reduce substance de- speakers speak on all aspects to
pendency. help the families.
It all starts with a decision. When Rotarian Laura Mack dropping off materials donated by Rotary for the Hope Not The next forum will be on Octo-
a person struggling with any sub- Handcuffs bin at the Wayne Police Department to Lt. Spring and Chief Strong. ber 6th at the First Congregational
stance-use disorder decides they Church of Wayne at 12:30 p.m.
want help, they can come to any po- nered with FAN and Hope Not Hand- Making the decision to get help is Speakers will include Lauren
lice agency that is participating in cuffs by holding two club events (in hard. Showing up at the police sta- Rousseau, President of Northwest
Hope Not Handcuffs and ask for September 2020 and December tion is hard. But getting treatment Wayne FAN and Jeff Jones. You can
help. Instead of getting arrested or 2020) to load backpacks for Hope and following through is hard too. contact Laura Mack at judgelaura-
their name ran through the system, Not Handcuff participants. Once an individual shows up to mack@gmail.com if you are inter-
they will be greeted with support, Mack, also the Wayne Rotary the police station in search of help, ested in attending.
compassion, and the focus is on get- Club president, along with other Jeff Jones, the coordinator/director Hope Not Handcuffs is in need of
ting that individual treatment. Wayne Rotarians and friends helped for Hope Not Handcuffs in Wayne is more Angels volunteers. If you are in-
The Wayne Police Department load 200 string backpacks with per- called. His job is to dispatch an terested in becoming an Angel, there
has been a participating agency in sonal care items like: toothbrush “Angel” to the police station. If he will be a training session on October
Hope Not Handcuffs since March and toothpaste (travel size), sham- can't find an Angel, he will go to the 30th at 11 a.m. at the Wayne Police
2021. poo and conditioner (travel size), de- police station personally. Station. The training will last about
Addiction doesn’t just affect the odorant, hard candy, granola bars, Angels are trained to take down two hours.
addicted, it also affects the family body wash/soap, face masks, hand information, enter it into the Hope If you are interested in getting in-
and friends. Many times, family sanitizer, bottled water, laminated Not Handcuff database, and if the in- volved, either by donating supplies
members struggling with loved ones card with local resources such as dividual is accepted into the pro- for backpacks or bins, donating
in active addiction tend to feel food pantries, donation centers, gram, work to get that person into money, becoming an Angel, or at-
ashamed and alone. FAN seeks to AA/NA meetings, etc. proper treatment placement. tending a forum, you can find infor-
change the face of addiction, work to They also supplied items that Getting an individual into treat- mation at
end the stigma of addiction, and ed- would not fit in the backpacks such ment can be challenging but the familiesagainstnarcotics.org or con-
ucate the community, as well as as: sweatpants, sweatshirts, socks Hope Not Handcuffs’ team will work tact Laura Mack at judgelaura-
those affected by addiction by creat- and small blankets. to get them into treatment as soon as mack@gmail.com with any
ing positive change in the treatment These backpacks and items are possible. Once they are in the Hope questions.
of addiction. placed in bins at every participating
FAN chapters existed in many police station. When someone comes
other regions of Michigan but there through wanting help from Hope Not
wasn’t a single FAN chapter in Wayne Handcuffs, they will be gifted with a
Country. That is until a decision was backpack and those items.
made and a group of northwestern The Wayne Hope Not Handcuffs
Wayne County members decided it has had 12 requests for assistance,
was time to change that. making it the busiest in Wayne
The Northwest Wayne County County to date.
FAN chapter was launched in March "The Wayne Police Department is
2017. thrilled to have the opportunity to
“We all need to work together to participate in Hope Not Handcuffs.
lessen the stigma for people to get Addiction is a disease that requires
help,” said Laura Mack, secretary of treatment, and this is a great way to
the Northwest Wayne County FAN give some folks a chance to get treat-
chapter since 2018. ment by walking in our front door,”
The Wayne Rotary Club part- said Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong.
8 · October 2021 · The Wayne Dispatch