Sunday, May 11, 2025
5/11/2025
Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Overdose Response - Project Director: Dr. Brandt Briggs Contact numbers: 740-464-7667 (Cell); 859-368-7983 (Fax) Email address: Brandt.Briggs@mtcomp.org Website address: mtcomp.org Grant funds requested in application: $300,000 Brief overview: Mountain Comprehensive Care Center (MCCC), in conjunction with key community partners representing local health departments, jails, and law enforcement, has developed the Mountain Opioid Prevention Program to improve access to, capacity for, and sustainability of prevention, treatment, and recovery services for rural, underserved individuals with substance use disorders, including opioid use disorders, in Breathitt, Lee, Powell, and Wolfe counties in eastern KY which are HRSA-designated rural counties. Needs addressed: While KY ranked 3rd highest in the U.S. in 2020 for “any drug overdose deaths” with the 5th highest opioid dispensing rate at 68.2 and staggering rates of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome at 19.4 compared to the U.S. at 7.3, the targeted service area experiences even higher rates of overdose deaths, SUD/OUD-related hospitalizations, opioid dispensing, and NAS. Moreover, the area experiences extensive economic and socioeconomic disparities with a high percentage of low-income families who are impacted by significant poverty, difficulties obtaining work, inadequate insurance, a lack of transportation, cultural stigma regarding addiction, and fears of seeking help all of which create barriers to prevention, treatment, and recovery supports. Proposed services: To address these challenges, MCCC will carry out the allowable activities of #1: Purchasing and distributing naloxone, fentanyl test strips or other relevant supplies within the target rural service area; #5: Training peer recovery support specialists and coordinating placements in local SUD/OUD service delivery sites, such as emergency departments, primary care, jails/prisons, behavioral health care clinics, etc.; and #6: Enhancing capacity to provide mobile crisis intervention services for individuals with SUD/OUD in the target rural service area. Implementation strategies include: 1) improve access and use of prevention, treatment, and recovery services by hiring 4.0 FTE Peer Support Specialists as well as providing transportation, harm reduction resources, and equitable and inclusive outreach approaches (Activities 5, 6); 2) increase access to peer recovery supports, including education, service navigation and follow-up, through integration into primary care settings and jails (Activity 5); 3) increase the region’s capacity to provide mobile crisis intervention as well as link individuals experiencing a SUD/OUD overdose or complication to treatment and recovery supports through a Quick Response Team inclusive of trained staff, and distribution of naloxone, fentanyl strips, and other resources (Activities 1, 6); and 4) increase sustainability through community collaboration and development of a long-term service plan (Activities 1, 5, 6). Long-term outcomes include reduce the morbidity and mortality of SUD/OUD in the targeted area; increase use of prevention, treatment, and recovery services; improve coordination of community resources; and decrease stigma associated with addiction. Population group(s) served: Within this targeted population and service area, MCCC will be sensitive to the needs of vulnerable subpopulations who have historically suffered from poorer behavioral health outcomes and disparities, and will target individuals who belong to underserved communities defined under section 2 of Executive Order 13985 as persons with disabilities (30.6% of population); persons who live in rural areas (100% of population); and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality (29.8%). Also, within this vulnerable population will be persons who are incarcerated and/or reentering the community as data show that 65-70% of inmates have a SUD/OUD and enhanced risks of overdose just after release.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).