Andover Townsman, March 10, 2016
The town has officially responded to the opioid epidemic.
After the problem first erupted in 2013, worsened in 2014 and showed no signs of abating last year, the Board of Selectmen has hired a community support coordinator responsible for combating the problem.
Sobhan Namvar, who formerly worked at Andover Youth Services and who was more recently a social worker at Lexington High School, is now working again in Andover, earning $78,000 annually plus benefits.
Namvar, 31, of Methuen, started work Tuesday, getting oriented to his workplace at the police station.
He said his immediate hope is to connect with other like-minded people in town, and, ultimately, together, create a “community of love, understanding and openness” to help those who are in need of help.
Selectmen approved his appointment Monday night, 4-1, with Selectman Bob Landry voting against it.
Namvar was originally planned to be one of two employees under a controversial plan narrowly approved by Selectmen last year. Instead, Town Manager Andrew Flanagan said only one person will be hired, adding that it remains to be seen if the other post will need filling as well.
The town has not budgeted for the second position, Flanagan said
Police Chief Patrick Keefe wrote the job descriptions for the positions in response to the heroin addiction epidemic. As of the time he presented them to selectmen on July 28, there were seven overdose deaths in town.
Last summer, the opioid posts sparked controversy among selectmen. In August, the board split 3-2 in their vote to advertise for two positions to combat heroin addiction.
One of those votes in opposition came from Alex Vispoli. But last night Vispoli voted in the affirmative, saying the questions he had in August have since been answered by the police chief and the town manager.
“I am convinced ...,” said Vispoli, a candidate for re-election in less than two weeks. “At this point I think it is the right thing to do.”
The lone opponent Monday, Robert Landry, said he opposed the positions in August and remains opposed. He didn’t elaborate on his opposition Monday other than to say it is spelled out on his website.
Landry did, however, ask both the town manager and police chief how they would measure success to determine if the new position was successful.
The police chief said it is difficult to measure success when you have a community, an entire society going through the opioid epidemic, and one bad batch of heroin in Lawrence could result in numerous overdose deaths.
Keefe did say, though, that by taking action the “public feels the town is doing the right thing.”
Flanagan added, “I think he has a rare skill to be able to connect with people. I think he has a passion for this type of work. I think this is what contributed to him rising to the top of the list.”
Flanagan said he and committee members charged with screening candidates for the coordinator post are confident they have the right person in Namvar for both the coordinator and clinician position. They looked at 85 resumes.
Namvar is a licensed social worker who has a master’s degree.
The screening panel’s three members were the police chief, Health Department Director Tom Carbone and Youth Services Director Bill Fahey.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Mary O’Donoghue said on Monday, before selectmen met, that she has talked to several people about Namvar including Rebecca Wolfe, the Arlington Police Department’s clinician, and they say he is well-prepared for the Andover job.
He communicates well and “clinically is very strong,” meaning he understands substance abuse —the observation and treatment of patients, O’Donoghue said.
Namvar will be based at the police station and respond to some opioid-related calls with police. The original job description for the clinician post said the person had to be available, 24/7 to respond to emergencies.
This past weekend, Namvar was among four Andover men and women, two from the police department and two from youth services, who attended a Harvard Medical School program called “Treating the Addictions.”
Presented at the Boston Park Plaza program was the latest clinical, theoretical, and research findings on addictive behaviors for adolescents, adults, and families. The course focused on new treatment methods and teaching people how put them into practice.
Flanagan said he also foresees Namvar helping people with other addictions, such as hoarding, and mental health problems.
“I want this person to be the face of the organization for people in need,” Flanagan said.
Namvar previously worked at Andover Youth Services, Doherty Middle School and coached wrestling at local schools.
“He knows Andover and Andover knows him,” Flanagan said.