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In One Mass. City, Outreach Teams Work To Steer People Away From Opioid Overdose

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Tenelle Pina, one of the people the outreach team is looking for this evening, hugs Pastor Jamie Casey and tells him she wants to go into detox. The following day, instead of waiting for the ride the outreach team promised, Pina walked to Casey’s office at PAACA (Positive Action Against Chemical Addiction) in New Bedford. The agency found Pena a detox bed. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Tenelle Pina, one of the people the outreach team is looking for this evening, hugs Pastor Jamie Casey and tells him she wants to go into detox. The following day, instead of waiting for the ride the outreach team promised, Pina walked to Casey’s office at PAACA (Positive Action Against Chemical Addiction) in New Bedford. The agency found Pena a detox bed. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

One of the cities ravaged by the nationwide opioid epidemic is New Bedford, Massachusetts, a working-class fishing port. But this year, police report the number of overdoses has gone down, and they think part of the credit goes to a band of civic leaders trying to get a grip on the crisis.

Here & Now's Lisa Mullins (@ljmullinsworld) reports.

More Photos

The outreach team knocks on a door in New Bedford. On this call they find the person they're looking for is no longer living at this address. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
The outreach team knocks on a door in New Bedford. On this call they find the person they're looking for is no longer living at this address. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Pastor Jamie Casey of the South Coast Community Church talks with an opioid user during an evening outreach event in New Bedford. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Pastor Jamie Casey of the South Coast Community Church talks with an opioid user during an evening outreach event in New Bedford. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Reverend David Lima drives through the city with the outreach team. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Reverend David Lima drives through the city with the outreach team. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
A Narcan kit available from the outreach team. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
A Narcan kit available from the outreach team. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

This segment aired on December 29, 2017.

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