Law enforcement plays a critical role in helping to fight the opioid crisis through task force partnerships, training, and – as the front line on the streets – preventing overdose deaths.
Wilmington Police Department knows not all cases are the same, and arrest isn’t always the answer. LEAD® is founded on the idea that narcotics use is more often a public health problem than a criminal justice problem.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, take the LEAD and call 910-762-5333.
Click here to learn more about LEAD Wilmington.
Call 910-762-5333 for referrals and to learn more about LEAD Wilmington.
LEAD® is founded on the idea that narcotics use is more often a public health problem than a criminal justice problem.
Police exercise discretionary authority to redirect individuals to a community-based, harm-reduction intervention for minor narcotics related violations.
In lieu of the normal criminal justice system cycle — booking, detention, prosecution, conviction, incarceration — individuals, 18 years or older, are instead referred into an intensive case-management program where they receive a wide range of support services, often including transitional and permanent housing and/or drug treatment.
Additional Resources
The Injury and Violence Prevention Branch (IVPB) of the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) generates multiple resources to help keep its partners informed about overdose in North Carolina: