Abstract

An Equitable Response to the Ongoing Opioid Crisis: Addressing Historical and Systemic Inequities

Linda J FRAZIER, MA, RN, MCHES¹, Kate L. Nolt, MPH, PhD², Deirdre Dingman, DrPH, MPH, CHES³, Kathleen L Egan, PhD MS⁴, Tooka Zokaie, MPH, CPH⁵, Kyle O. Mounts, MD, MPH⁶, Carrie Shaver, DHA, IHC⁷, Manreet K Bhullar, MPH⁸, L.A. McCrae, M.Div⁹ (1)Advocates for Human Potential, (2)Creighton University, (3)Temple University, (4)East Carolina University, (5)American Dental Association, (6)Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care, (7)New Mexico State University, (8)Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office, (9)Morgan State University

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

While millions of dollars have been expended on evidenced based programs and treatments, the U.S. continues to experience an opioid crisis. Although prescription opioid related deaths have decreased, mortality related to synthetic opioids has increased by more than 15%. Emphasis must now shift to addressing a more dangerous landscape of increased use of potent synthetic opioids, polysubstance use, and the growth in stimulant overdose deaths (with or without opioid involvement). A public health response must address these emergent trends. Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is the most effective evidence-based treatment for moderate to severe OUD. MOUD pharmacotherapies reduce opioid use and OUD remission, improve treatment retention, and reduce overdose mortality. Yet access to integrated MOUD treatment with opioid agonist treatment (OAT) medications remains inconsistent and limited. Over the past five years, the U.S. response to the crisis has evolved, with more emphasis on demand-oriented interventions, harm reduction, and treatment. Despite these efforts the number of opioid-related fatal and non-fatal overdoses which disproportionately impact vulnerable and marginalized populations continue to increase. This session will provide an overview of the 2021 APHA policy statement, highlight key recommendations, and specifically address drivers of the current crisis including opportunities for enhancing efforts to address disparities in local and national responses.

Abstract

A Changing, Volatile Drug Supply: Trends in Overdose Deaths in Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Manreet K. Bhullar, MPH Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

This talk will cover the evolving nature of the overdose crisis through a medical examiner’s office, and how integral medical examiner’s officers are to local public health surveillance and detection of trends to inform public health. This data can contribute to public health interventions, and policy statements such as the APHA opioid policy.
Data from the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office informs harm reduction efforts in our community such as distribution of naloxone and fentanyl testing stripes. In incidences of high overdose deaths, the CCMEO alerts local public health and public safety partners to increase access geographically to treatment and harm reduction efforts.

Abstract

GCSTOP: Meet Me Where I Am

Tyler Yates, BSW, CADC Syringe Services Program Coordinator, Guilford County Solution to The Opioid Problem

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

The Guilford County Solution to The Opioid Problem (GCSTOP) provides Harm Reduction services to individuals in Guilford County, in North Carolina. The program is a collaboration between Guilford County and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. This unique partnership leverages ties with the university through research and community engagement. One of novel aspects of the program is that it doubles as a clinical training site for students seeking both Bachelors and Masters in Health and Human Services Programs. A group of around a dozen students provide the services in all of GCSTOP’s community-based programs under a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Substance use Certified Clinical Supervisor.
GCSTOP currently has 4 focused programs: Post-Overdose Response Team, Syringe Services Program, Justice Involved Program, and Hepatitis C Bridge Counseling Program.
The GCSTOP Team has seen preliminary outcomes for the 2.109 participants from all tis programs, since its launch in 2017. With a staff of 3, in calendar year 2021, GCSTOP registered 357 new unique participants who were responsible for some of 1,200 overdose rescues in the community using the naloxone provided by its programs.
Guided by people with lived experience, GCSTOP stays community driven, often operating in settings like motel parking lots and truly meeting people where they are. The ability to reach people who often report being too afraid or unable to access other services allows GCSTOP to serve as a vehicle to many services such as treatment and provide accessible full case management.

Abstract

Practical Applications of Harm Reduction

Chase Holleman Center for Substance Abuse Prevention - SAMHSA

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

The Biden-Harris Administration has identified harm reduction as a federal drug policy priority and one of the four principles of the HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded 25 grants for the first-ever SAMHSA Harm Reduction grant program. This funding, authorized by the American Rescue Plan, will help increase access to a range of community harm reduction services and support harm reduction service providers as they work to help prevent overdose deaths and reduce health risks often associated with drug use.
Additionally, SAMHSA convened the first-ever federal Harm Reduction Summit, in partnership with the CDC and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) on December 13th and 16th, 2021. The Summit brought together over 100 stakeholders representing prevention, treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and, most importantly, - those with lived experience with substance use- to help guide SAMHSA’s policies, programs, and practices as they relate to harm reduction. An important outcome of the summit is a Harm Reduction Framework that will guide SAMHSA Harm Reduction activities with an anticipated release of late 2022.