Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Overdose Response - The project's target area includes Cochran, Crosby, Lynn, and Hockley counties in rural Texas, focusing on reducing opioid-related harms through community-driven strategies. Key activities include: Distribution of harm reduction supplies (naloxone, drug deactivation pouches, medication lock boxes) in high-risk community locations, including a naloxone vending machine in Hockley County. Increasing opioid and substance use prescreening and referral in schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, and through partnerships with local law enforcement and diversion programs. Strengthening partnerships with local organizations like StarCare Specialty Health System, Region 17 Education Service Center, Levelland Police Department, and Hockley County Sheriff’s Office for coordinated outreach and referrals. Providing community education and SMART Recovery training to enhance awareness and peer-based recovery support. The target area covers approximately 3,392 square miles with a population just under 35,000. The region reports significant substance use issues, limited treatment access, and socioeconomic barriers, including high rates of uninsured residents (approximately 21-23.5%), and single-parent households ranging from 25.8% to 44.36%. Region 1 has reported significant opioid and fentanyl-related fatalities, especially in Lubbock County, indicating a broader regional concern that emphasizes the importance of expanding intervention services.
