Massachusetts town to begin sending addicts for treatment rather than to jail

POSTPONED WHILE THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER REVIEWS MEDICAL EVIDENCE. HEATHER: IT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE ANYWHERE AND ONE LOCAL CITY IS HOPING IT COULD BE THE KEY TO WINNING THE DRUG WAR. NEWSCENTER 5'S MARY SALADNA IS THERE LIVE WITH THE OFFER POLICE ARE MAKING. MARY: IT IS AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME, ALLOW DRUG ADDICTS TO TURN THEMSELVES IN TO GET HELP. PEOPLE ARE DYING IN CRAZY NUMBERS. EVERYBODY DESERVES A CHANCE. CHRISTIAN MACKEY IS LIVING PROOF. NOW FOUR YEARS CLEAN AND NEWLY MARRIED, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE HE WAS A HOMELESS HEROIN ADDICT FOR SEVEN YEARS. THE POLICE CHIEF AGREES. HE IS CONVINCED POLICE CANNOT SHUTDOWN THE SUPPLY OF OPIATES, SO HE HAS DECIDED TO REDUCE TO MANNED, AND SAVE LIVES -- REDUCE DEMAND AND SAVE LIVES. YOU CAN WALK IN WHEN YOU ARE READY. MARY: STARTING JUNE 1, ADDICTS CAN WALK INTO THE GLOUCESTER POLICE STATION AND HAND OVER THEIR DRUGS OR NEEDLES, AND GET HELP, NOT ARRESTED. WE ARE DONE WITH AN ADDICT BEING CRIMINALLY CHARG ED. WE WILL TAKE THE EXTRA STEP AND MAKE SURE THEY GET THE TREATMENT THEY NEED. MARY: IT IS AN IDEA THAT HAS QUICKLY GONE VIRAL. IT HAS GENERATED OVER A MILLION HITS IN LESS THAN 30 HOURS. THEY CAN SAVE ONE LIFE OR ONE FAMILY AND THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS. MARY: HE WILL TRAVEL TO CAPITOL HILL, ASKING LAWMAKERS TO ALLOW CITIES AND TOWNS TO KEEP MORE OF THE DRUG MONEY THEY SEIZE AND

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