Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Overdose Response - Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center (CHMC) and the North Country Rural Collaborative (NCRC) are dedicated to addressing the opioid crisis in St. Lawrence and Lewis Counties, and the rural portions of Jefferson County, collectively known as the North Country, by providing extensive naloxone education, training, and distribution of supplies, improving care coordination for patients with SUD/OUD, and increasing availability of peer recovery coaching through expanded training. Through evidence-based interventions, community partnerships, and peer-led recovery support, the NCRC seeks to create a sustainable, person-centered system that bridges gaps between hospital-based care, community treatment, and harm reduction services. Established in 1855 as a community hospital, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center (CHMC) transitioned to a stand alone psychiatric facility in 2024 and has long been a key behavioral health provider in the North Country. CHMC is the designated 9.39 hospital for St. Lawrence County, delivering exceptional inpatient care for adults and serving as the exclusive acute inpatient facility for children and adolescents across the region. Their commitment to excellence in mental health care in the region plays a vital role in providing timely access to behavioral health care specialists and addiction recovery resources in the region. Tier One planned activities include Tertiary Prevention through the training on and distribution of naloxone kits; Screening and Connection via the implementation of Integrated Care Coordinators; and Training Peer Support Coaches to achieve the following project goals: (1) Increase Naloxone Training and Distribution: Provide comprehensive naloxone education and training along with life-saving naloxone kits to community members, providing them with the tools to respond in an emergent overdose situation and prevent unnecessary fatalities. (2) Strengthen Care Coordination Between Hospitals and Community Services: Deploy Integrated Care Coordinators to provide seamless transitions from emergency and inpatient care to outpatient treatment, peer support, and harm reduction services (3) Expand Peer Recovery Coaching Services: Increase access to peer-led recovery support, providing more residents with mentorship, guidance, and accountability to navigate treatment, recovery, and reintegrate into the community. (4) Reduce Stigma and Promote Community Engagement: Increase public awareness and education about opioid substance disorder as a treatable medical condition, reduce the stigma surrounding the use of harm reduction strategies, and inform the residents of the North Country on the availability of treatment and training services.
