The Broome County district attorney's office is offering a program designed to provide prompt treatment to people dealing with drug addiction issues.

District Attorney Stephen Cornwell said the goal of the initiative is to save lives and reduce crime linked to addicts who need money to pay for drugs.

Cornwell said the program is modeled after an effort that began in Massachusetts. He said he worked with the Gloucester police chief to help develop the Broome program. It's similar to a program initiated in Otsego County last November by the Cooperstown police chief.

Cornwell said addicts or relatives may call to make arrangements to take advantage of the program. The number is 607.778.6119.

The program is designed to encourage addicts to pursue help from law enforcement without fear of being arrested.

To be eligible, addicts must be willing to enter long-term treatment outside New York state. Registered sex offenders and those with active arrest warrants won't be permitted to participate. People now enrolled in Binghamton's Drug Treatment Court also won't be allowed to enroll in the county program.

The district attorney said three people called to ask about the initiative within ten minutes after the phone number was first publicized.

Cornwell said he was "a little bit" surprised by the instantaneous response. He said he was pleased that people were willing to inquire about the program.

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