The Marietta Police Department is the first in Georgia, and one of a few in the country, with a dedicated space infused with aromatherapy oils and a sound immersion system to help lower stress levels.

The Cobb County Police Department started a program in 2019 called the Partnership for Assistance, Treatment & Health. It aims to reduce the mentally ill population in jails, de-escalate dangerous encounters with police and decrease additional mental health crises. It’s become a model, with Marietta launching its own program in recent weeks.

Deaths from opioids have dropped nationally, but fatal overdoses are a top concern in Georgia. One police department is trying something new: instead of...