Grace: What is your name, role in the community, and connection to HDAAC?
Lieu Barrett: My name is Jim or James Barrett, and I am the Operations Lieutenant for the Holliston Police Department. I have been in Holliston for almost 2 years now. There are a lot of services and social resources available here that deal with substance misuse in the community, which my last community, Wrentham, did not have much of. My connection to HDAAC is relatively new, but we just partnered on the recent ‘In Plain Sight’ Parent Educational Event.
Grace: What is law enforcement’s approach to helping those who are struggling with substance misuse?
Lieu Barrett: I think Holliston, like most law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth, now recognizes that substance use disorders (SUDs) are viewed as medical issues rather than criminal ones. There has been a significant shift in how law enforcement and public safety respond to these cases, with a focus on intervention and connecting people to services whenever possible. Massachusetts has also changed many laws regarding how police can intervene in health and safety emergencies related to SUDs; we can now take individuals to the hospital for drug overdoses or other substance-related incapacitation, not just alcohol. With the increased availability of naloxone (Narcan), police can administer it during overdoses. However, since its effects are temporary, some individuals refuse hospital care, not realizing they could soon overdose again. Now, we have the legal authority to take them into protective custody and ensure they receive medical treatment, which was not possible under previous laws. This reflects a broader cultural shift in how society, and law enforcement in particular, views alcohol and other substance use disorders.
Grace: What role does law enforcement play in educating the community, especially youth, about substance misuse prevention?
Lieu Barrett: The ‘In Plain Sight’ program, which I brought to the community, is one way we’re educating parents about what teenagers might experiment with. Oomiya from the SAFE Coalition did a great job with her presentation, and we received very positive feedback. Her ‘Hidden In Plain Sight’ display shows how drugs and alcohol are being disguised as everyday items by manufacturers. Education like this helps parents stay aware of what’s in the marketplace and what their kids might be exposed to. Oomiya also highlighted how nicotine can be more addictive than heroin, which resonated with me after speaking with people who’ve struggled with both. Although heroin withdrawal is physically worse, nicotine’s psychological hold can be even harder to break. The ‘In Plain Sight’ program is an example of our growing collaboration with HDAAC, HYFS, and SAFE Coalition to deliver more effective prevention messaging.
Grace: What are risk and protective factors in the community related to substance misuse?
Lieu Barrett: In terms of risk factors, we often see a co-morbidity of mental health issues and substance misuse, particularly in domestic violence cases where alcohol is commonly involved. We respond to a lot of mental health and domestic violence incidents, and it’s typical to find a substance misuse component, whether it’s alcohol or misuse of psychotropic medications like those for anxiety and depression, which can cause more mental health issues when mixed with alcohol. After COVID, we saw an uptick in both mental health issues and substance misuse, likely due to people having a lot of time on their hands and dealing with the isolation.
As for protective factors, I think anytime we can normalize reaching out for help and asking for assistance, we create a protective layer in the community. When people are more willing to talk about their mental health or substance use, it allows us to connect them to resources like Holliston Youth and Family Services (HYFS). Programs like these, along with partnerships with HDAAC and the SAFE Coalition, help us offer support to families in crisis. I’ve also heard that younger generations, like Gen Z, are making a conscious effort to cut back on alcohol consumption, which could be a protective trend. However, with the rise of legalized marijuana, it would be interesting to see if people are shifting from alcohol to other substances.
A note from HDAAC: Another one of Holliston’s key protective factors is the availability of resources and opportunities, especially for young people to learn and get help for substance use and mental health. HDAAC and HYFS expanded on this by partnering with the Holliston Police Department (HPD) for the Jr. Police Academy in 2023 and 2024, where middle school students were taught to identify risk and protective factors and practice refusal skills. Programs like this, along with many other youth events, help shield Holliston from the harms of substances.
Grace: What challenges does law enforcement face when trying to balance enforcement with support and prevention?
Lieu Barrett: I think a key challenge is shifting the perception of law enforcement from just being enforcers to being community partners. A lot of people, myself included, get nervous when interacting with police, and that’s something we need to address. Of course, there are situations where we must maintain control, but not everything requires an authoritative stance. We need to show that we are approachable and part of the community, not separate from it. For example, during the ‘In Plain Sight’ event, I wore a polo shirt instead of my uniform because I didn’t want it to feel like a ‘power’ dynamic. I wanted people to see me as a parent, someone they can relate to, rather than just a cop with a gun and a badge. The challenge is balancing that image—being human and approachable—while still being ready to enforce the law when needed. It’s about showing that we’re not just in control of chaotic situations, but also part of the same community we’re protecting.
Grace: How can the community better support law enforcement in its prevention efforts?
Lieu Barrett: In order for the community to support us, we first need to demonstrate that we’re worth supporting. We need to be out there, approachable, and relatable. Chief Stone has done a great job with this in Holliston, emphasizing community interaction. When we engage with the community on a personal level, like I did with the ‘In Plain Sight’ presentation, we show that we’re here to support them. And in return, the community is more likely to support us. For example, after the ‘In Plain Sight’ event, I received feedback from the survey suggesting ways to make it bigger and more inclusive for parents of younger children. That’s support right there—people felt impacted and wanted to help improve it. If we can remove the power paradigm and show that we’re just like everyone else—people with jobs, families, and challenges—the community will be more willing to work with us. It’s about being peers and partners, not just an authoritative group.
Grace: Are there any new or upcoming programs that your department is involved with to prevent substance misuse?
Lieu Barrett: I am open to collaborating with everyone—Zoe at HDAAC, Jackie at HYFS, Oomiya at the SAFE Coalition, Jariel on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the schools, and Chief Cassidy from the Fire Department. I genuinely believe that by involving everyone and giving them a voice, we empower our community. If we can put our brand on everything to demonstrate that we are a united front here to support the community, I think that would be beneficial. Regarding our support for HDAAC, I hope that what we just accomplished is the beginning of many more initiatives. We all share a common mission, so we should tackle this work together.
To learn more or get involved with HDAAC, contact our Coordinator Zoe Moreau at moreauz@holliston.k12.ma.us. And be sure to visit our website HDAAC.org and follow us on Instagram (HollistonDAAC) and Facebook (HDAACoalition)!
