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Everett firefighter outreach worker reports opioid‑response decline, outlines follow‑up and prevention work
Summary
Paul Garrino, the Fire Department’s addiction recovery resource specialist, told the City Council the department’s outreach helped reduce recorded overdose incidents from about 180 in 2017 to roughly 40 last year and described follow-up and prevention work.
Paul Garrino, the addiction recovery resource specialist attached to the Everett Fire Department, briefed the City Council on Monday about the department’s outreach and follow-up work under the “Roadmap to Recovery” effort.
Garrino told the council the city’s overdose response numbers have fallen since the peak of the crisis: “Back in 2017, we had over 180 incidences… this past year we had 40 incidents,” he said, adding that the Fire Department’s incident reporting and a follow‑up program contribute to the decline.
Garrino described an outreach model that includes follow-up door knocks within 24 to 48 hours of an overdose, distribution of naloxone (Narcan) training and test strips, and connections to detox and recovery housing. He said his team helped 24 people enter detox programs and placed 17 in vetted sober homes over the past year. The specialist also cited prevention work in schools — trainings for students and teachers about counterfeit pills and fentanyl risk — and collaboration with the police department’s social-worker resources.
Councilors praised the work and asked how the City Council and administration could support expanded services. Garrino and councilors noted gaps in local mental‑health and animal‑control capacity, and several councilors recommended exploring additional funding and staffing, including a dedicated behavioral-health navigation position that could coordinate post‑hospital care and help reduce repeat crisis calls.
Garrino said the program uses grants and collaborative placements and that he receives data from firefighters and EMS for near-real-time follow-up. He also offered his contact information for referrals.
Councilors voted to excuse Garrino after his presentation and to refer the item back to the sponsor for follow-up. Several council members asked staff to consider whether additional positions or resources should be included in upcoming budget and program planning.
