Police quick response team now includes Wayne

The City of Wayne is the 21st local community to join the Families
Against Narcotics COMEBACK Quick Response Team. Marking the
official adoption of the program last month were, from left, 
Mayor John Rhaesa, FAN Peer Recovery Coach Dede Love, Police Chief
Ryan Strong, Ofc. Joshua Priebe, Ofc. Keith Zavitz, Ofc. Heather Holcomb,
FAN Executive Director Linda Davis, Northwest Wayne FAN President
Lauren Rousseau and Northwest Wayne FAN Secretary Judge Laura Mack.

The City of Wayne has joined the Families Against Narcotics COMEBACK program, becoming the 21st local department to participate in the Quick Response Team effort.  The COMEBACK program offers help to those who have survived an overdose or had contact with law enforcement because of substance use.

Families Against Narcotics (FAN) is a community-based organization for those seeking recovery, those in recovery, family members affected by addiction, and community supporters, organizers explained. FAN members seek to change the face of addiction, dispel the stigma of addiction, and educate the community, as well as those affected by addiction. 

The group began in Macomb County and has now grown into an organization with chapters across Michigan.

 The mission of the group is to offer community-based, compassionate, best-practice/evidence-based services to people who have been affected by addiction-including individuals with substance abuse disorders (SUD) and their families to help erase the stigma of addiction while instilling compassion and hope, the organization website explained.

An integral part of that mission to remove the stigma associated with addiction includes education while informing the community of the growing problem of substance dependency or addiction among all ages, along with information about the increasing use of heroin by young people.

FAN also provides education through professional and guest speakers.

 FAN creates a support network for those affected by addiction so no family or individual need suffer alone, according to the organization website.