More than 3,000 people attended the Unite to Face Addiction-Michigan statewide rally in Lansing on May 17.

The Families Against Narcotics’ Hope Not Handcuffs program received special recognition and a tribute from Gov. Rick Snyder.

Unite to Face Addiction Michigan is dedicated to unifying the voices of the millions of Michigan citizens affected by substance abuse and other disorders.

Hope Not Handcuffs is a community project started by Families Against Narcotics, or FAN, and is directed at bringing law enforcement together with community organizations in order to find viable treatment options for individuals seeking help to reduce dependency with heroin, prescription drugs, and alcohol.

Judge Linda Davis, president of FAN and chairwoman of the Governor’s Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse Commission, repeated the need for immediately accessible treatment for those who need help. The judge added that people in recovery are “some of the strongest people I’ve ever met in my life.”

As of today, more than 1,240 individuals have entered addiction treatment through Hope Not Handcuffs since February 2017.

The way that Hope Not Handcuffs operates is that any person struggling with any drug addiction can go to any of the participating police agencies and ask for help. Simple as that. Note: Exceptions that may make someone ineligible for the program include a felony or domestic violence warrant; danger to others; younger than 18 without parent or guardian consent; or a medical condition that may need hospitalization.

If accepted into the program, the individual will be guided through a brief intake process to ensure proper treatment placement.