Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
Lying at the southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains in North Georgia, Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, and Polk counties are four of the hardest-hit counties in the state in terms of opioid overdose. The region has a highly disproportionate burden of opioid overdose, with each county having a 2018-2020 opioid overdose mortality rate higher than the state average (Fannin 18.9, Gilmer 18.8, Gordon 0.0, and Polk 18.7 per 100,000 vs. 12.2 statewide). Between 2019 and 2020, Georgia saw a 35% increase in drug related deaths. Of note, Fannin County has been ranked by the CDC in the top 5% as one of the most vulnerable counties in the nation for HIV and/or Hepatitis C infection as a result of the opioid epidemic. In addition, the region exhibits a 36% higher overdose-related ER visit rate than the rest of the state and 120% higher overdose-related ER visit rate than the rest of the nation. The region’s population is more likely to experience a high uninsured adult population, is generally older, and is more likely to live in poverty than the rest of the state and the nation. Although the North Georgia OPEN program has made strides over the past four years, there remains complications in the access to adequate prevention, treatment, and recovery services throughout the four-county region. As an example, despite having some of the highest overdose rates in the state, over the course of the three-year RCORP Implementation Project, the collaborative was able to increase DATA waived medication?assisted treatment (MAT) from two to three providers. However, these are the only three MAT providers in the entire 4-county area (a ratio of more than 75,000 residents per MAT-waived provider), and they are unable to meet the demand for their services. The overall lack of substance use disorder treatment resources within the area underscores the importance of prevention, both of opioid use disorder itself, and of opioid overdose. Developed during the RCORP plan ning grant, the vision of North Georgia OPEN is “A Georgia Free of Opioid Overdose and Misuse,” with a mission “To create and sustain opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives in Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, and Polk counties.” To achieve this vision and mission, North Georgia OPEN established 5 goals that will guide our efforts. These 5 Goals are: • Goal 1: Implement evidence-based initiatives to prevent opioid use disorder and opioid overdose in Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, and Polk counties. • Goal 2: Implement evidence-based initiatives to increase access to treatment for opioid use disorder in Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, and Polk counties. • Goal 3: Implement evidence-based initiatives to support and expand the recovery community within Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, and Polk counties. • Goal 4: Evaluate the effect of North Georgia OPEN on opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders in Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, and Polk counties. • Goal 5: Enact a comprehensive sustainability plan designed to sustain the partnerships across the community and to implement financial sustainability strategies.
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).
