Sona Josepian, clinical program director with the Glendale Police Department’s Community Outreach Resources and Engagement (CORE) bureau, described the department’s substance abuse and wellness resource program to the Glendale City Council on Jan. 13, 2026. The program, started with grant funding from Senator Anthony Portantino’s office, aims to connect residents with mental-health and substance-abuse services through assessments, referrals and ongoing case management.

Josepian said the program serves people across a range of needs — from those arrested on narcotics charges to residents seeking help but lacking access due to socioeconomic barriers. She described partnerships with the Glendale Public Library, YWCA, the city’s homeless services and the GUSD and said the narcotics bureau often participates in outreach and youth programming. Josepian noted Narcan use and training are documented year-to-date and stressed Narcan’s life-saving role in reversing opioid overdoses.

Josepian gave a two-year success story of a teenager who received coordinated help through the program’s referrals, hospitalization, the HOPE team and mental-health diversion, and she said the program stays with clients through relapses and court involvement. She said services and screenings are free; the film screening of Dirty Drugs (focused on fentanyl) is set for Feb. 26, 6 p.m., at the Look Theatre with a panel and community resources. RSVP information will be available through the city manager’s office and program contact details are listed on the Glendale PD website under substance abuse and mental health.

Council members thanked Josepian and asked staff to provide the contact sheet again for public distribution. Public speaker Herbert Milano commended city support for programs like this and urged the council to produce an annual quality-of-life report to track local indicators such as drug use, high-school graduation and domestic violence as a basis for budgeting.

The program’s announced events and ongoing trainings aim to expand Narcan awareness, in-school education and community outreach.