SPOKANE, Wash. — With drug use and overdoses on the rise in Spokane, one special unit is working to reach those who are most in need.
The Spokane Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) is made up of officials from Spokane Police Department, Spokane Valley Police Department, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and various mental health professionals.
The team responds to people experiencing behavioral and mental health crises, with the goal of alleviating demand on law enforcement and emergency rooms.
Many of the calls BHU responds to relieve patrol officers, allowing them to respond to other calls for service. In 2023, the BHU relieved 5,567 calls from patrols.
One of those calls they responded to was for Shaun Housam.
“I had already died and was going to die again or end up in prison,” said Housam.
Housam had been addicted to opioids since he was 11-years-old and overdosed twice in February.
“I just knew I couldn’t keep living the life I was living at all,” he said.
Housam reached out to Compassionate Addiction Treatment and was connected with the BHU.