June 17, 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Connecticut CLEAR Deflection Summit Unites Law Enforcement, Public Health and Community Leaders at Stamford Police Headquarters Stamford, CT – June 12, 2025 — The Connecticut, Community & Law Enforcement for Addiction Recovery (CLEAR) initiative marked a major milestone with the successful hosting of the CLEAR Deflection Summit at Stamford Police Headquarters. The event brought together more than 50 law enforcement officials, behavioral health professionals, community partners, and state leaders from across the state to accelerate strategies for deflection, overdose prevention, and community-based recovery support. The summit highlighted the impact of CLEAR’s innovative approach—diverting individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) away from the criminal justice system and toward community-based care through law enforcement referrals and rapid outreach. “The CLEAR initiative has transformed how we respond to addiction—from enforcement to empathy, from crisis to care,” said Lauren Pristo, Statewide CLEAR Project Manager. “This summit was a