July 30, 2026
A phone call comes in. Someone in the community has just experienced an overdose. Their family is scared and unsure where to turn for help.
In the past, situations like these were often handled primarily through the criminal justice system. Today, communities recognize that substance use disorders are treatable health conditions that require a different response—one focused on connection, compassion, and access to care.
What is a Deflection Program?
A deflection program is a pre-arrest intervention that connects individuals with community resources instead of arresting them for eligible, low-level offenses related to substance use.
Deflection programs may provide access to:
- Substance use treatment
- Recovery coaching
- Mental health services
- Case management
- Overdose prevention resources
- Housing and other community supports
What is the difference between deflection and diversion?
While deflection and diversion both connect people to services, the timing is different.
Diversion happens after an arrest or when someone is already involved in the criminal justice system, providing an alternative pathway that may include treatment and support services.
Deflection happens before an arrest, allowing law enforcement and community partners to connect individuals directly to care.
By reaching people sooner, deflection programs help ensure these critical moments become opportunities for support rather than punishment. Early intervention can also reduce repeat interactions with the criminal justice system, lower overdose risks, and shift community perspectives by promoting a more compassionate, health-focused approach to supporting individuals with substance use disorders.
How McCall’s CLEAR Initiative supports deflection efforts.
Deflection relies on collaboration between community partners. The McCall Behavioral Health Network provides regional oversight and statewide coordination for the Community and Law Enforcement for Addiction Recovery (CLEAR) Initiative, partnering with law enforcement officers, first responders, behavioral health providers, social workers, and recovery support professionals.
Through CLEAR, McCall’s Community Engagement Specialists:
- Conduct rapid follow-ups with individuals at high risk for overdose, including those who have recently experienced an overdose
- Provide service navigation and ongoing recovery support
- Coordinate regional overdose prevention efforts and provide overdose prevention services throughout western Connecticut
- Work with families and loved ones to develop recovery plans and coping strategies
- Provide community-based training on substance use trends, available resources, overdose prevention, and overdose response
You don’t have to wait for a crisis to seek support.
Whether you’re concerned about your own substance use or someone you care about, the CLEAR Initiative can connect you with treatment, recovery support, overdose prevention services, and other community resources. McCall also offers Family Recovery Coaching, providing guidance, education, and support for family members and loved ones affected by substance use disorders.
For more information about our programs and available services, please call our CLEAR team at 860-294-4044.
The CLEAR Initiative is made possible through strong partnerships with the Torrington, Winsted, Watertown, Newtown, Ridgefield, Granby, Avon, and Farmington Police Departments, the Connecticut State Police Troops B and L, and the Connecticut Department of Correction.
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