The Clarkstown Police Department is joining the national effort the help those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.

Officers say anyone who needs help can come to the department and ask for the Hope Not Handcuffs program. A call will then be made to an "Angel" volunteer who will seek out a treatment plan.

Chief Raymond McCullagh says the program is aimed to help people instead of punishing them. "Make no mistake about it, we have devoted many of our police resources to combat those manufacturing and supplying these deadly drugs will continue to so," he says. "But I know in most cases, we can't arrest our way out of this problem."

Hope not Handcuffs was founded in Michigan and more than 80 police departments across the country are involved.