By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — With rising stress levels due to the pandemic and with fentanyl fueling a spike in drug overdoses, Wakefield’s Crisis Intervention Team has stepped up to assist those in need of assistance.
The Town Council last night got an update on the mental health and drug abuse intervention services provided by the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) operated by the Wakefield Police Department and the Health Department.
On hand were Catherine Dhingra of the Wakefield Health Department, Police Chief Steven Skory, Deputy Police Chief Craig Calabrese and WPD Family Service Officer Amy Rando. From Eliot Community Human Services and the Wakefield Police Department were Jennifer Waczkowski, LMHC Jail Diversion Clinician, and Tracy Ascolillo, Recovery Coach.
Calabrese noted that 34 percent of Wakefield Police officers have completed full Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training. This is a 40-hour advanced Mental Health course. (The national recommendation is that 20 percent of a police force receive this training.)
All Wakefield officers have attended an 8-hour Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, Calabrese added.
He stressed that the work done by the CIT team requires the highest level of communication skills and the ability to de-escalate situations.
Mental Health Clinician Jennifer Waczkowski noted that she has been working with the Wakefield Police Department for nine years.
She said that in 2021 the total number of initiated mental health-related calls was 506, up from 418 the previous year. Mental health-related calls where only CIT officers rendered assistance totaled 286. The prior year there were 276.
She noted that of the 205 cases that involved potential emergency room transports, the CIT team was able to divert 32 of those (15 percent). That is significant, she said, because the average cost of ER visit, EMS transport and evaluation is $1,830 to $3,500. She also talked about cases where the CIT team was able to intervene and prevent arrest, jail or criminal charges. (Average arrest and court-related cost: $5,650.)
Waczkowski also talked about the Interface Referral Service, which matches callers with licensed mental health providers from an extensive database. Each referral meets the location, insurance and specialty needs of the caller. Sponsored by the Town of Wakefield and the Wakefield Public Schools, this free and confidential service helps Wakefield residents connect with a wide range of valuable resources related to mental health and wellness. Calls from Wakefield residents are answered 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The program also provides support for school and town staff.
Officer Amy Rando said that the number of domestic violence calls went from 228 in FY 2020 to 378 in FY 2021. The total number of domestic violence arrests was 47.
Rando stressed the value of the Wakefield Alliance Against Violence as a resource.
Recovery Coach Tracy Ascolillo talked about her work with those dealing with substance abuse issues. She noted that there were 33 detox placements made in FY 2021. She also talked about the follow-up work that she does with individuals.
There has been an uptick in overdose fatalities from two in 2019 to nine so far this year. There was discussion of the number of overdoses, the majority of which involve a combination of heroin and fentanyl. That uptick was blamed on the increased prevalence of fentanyl, which illegal drug producers are mixing with all types of other drugs. It was noted that first responders have saved countless lives by administering the overdose antidote Narcan.
Asked by Town Councilor Edward Dombroski about the nature of the “high-level” mental health-related calls, Chief Skory said that these often involve individuals with serious mental health diagnoses who can be very difficult to reason with. He praised the “incredible work” of the CIT team to de-escalate such situations and get the individual into an ambulance.
“You can’t appreciate it unless you see it,” he said.
