This article provides information about the six pathways to treatment through first responder deflection before focusing specifically on one of those pathways: the First Responder and Officer Referral Pathway.
This document notes that law enforcement and first responder deflection programs provide pivotal opportunities to redirect individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs), mental health disorders (MHDs), and co-occurring disorders, so that, rather than placement in jails or emergency departments those individuals are connected with community-based substance misuse treatment, mental health services, and recovery support, as well as support services like housing and food assistance. The document provides an introduction to the six pathways to treatment through first responder deflection, but it focuses on the First Responder and Officer Referral Pathway; it provides information on how the pathway works, its origins, ten critical elements, and five case studies demonstrating use of the pathway.