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Gloucester's Unique Approach To Deal With Addiction Gathering Steam

GLOUCESTER (CBS) --  As of Sunday, 17 people who have come in to the Gloucester Police department asking for help for their opioid addiction have been admitted to the the department's ANGEL program, according to Gloucester Police.

The drug program, which began June 1, is aimed at getting addicts clean rather than sending them to jail.

Gary Langis, an advocate who works with recovering addicts, is optimistic about the program's success.

"I know how hard it is to get people into treatment," said Langis. "It take a day usually to get somebody placed, it take more than a day."

Langis says there are still obstacles the program faces, such as insurance coverage, but offering help rather than prison time is a good first step.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports

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