In relationship to Ninilchik Traditional Council’s (NTC) ongoing mission to promote access to health and education resources, the Community Clinic has been providing Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) since 2014. Together, with our partners, we have been able to provide MAT to 79 Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) patients. With $485,730 in MAT funding NTC will enhance their addiction clinic and ensure that MAT is available to all OUD patients based on diagnosis, need, risk of relapse, and assessment recommendations.
According to the Center for Disease Control, Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula has the highest rate in Alaska per capita of opioid prescriptions, which are higher in primarily white, rural communities with high unemployment rates. Since 2016 the (NTC) Addictions Program has served 79 OUD patients, 46% are female and 54% are male, with an average age of 38, residing from Homer to Nikiski. Of our 31 active clients, 39% are Alaska Native/ Native America, 16% have Hepatitis C, 23% receive services via Telehealth, 45% used heroin, 23% abused prescription opioids, and 6% were IV drug uses. In 2018 we have admitted 38 patients, 68% are low income and qualify for Medicaid, 31% are Alaska Native, 34% are 20-35 years old, and 68% reside on the Southern Kenai Peninsula.
Current service gaps include 1.) client access to care, 2.) delivery and coordination of services for patients with co-occurring disorders, 3.) outreach and engagement activities to increase positive outcomes in MAT, 4.) diverse funding mechanisms and services delivery models to greater support recovery, 5.) peer recovery support services (PRSS), 6.) outreach and screening for incarcerated individuals, 7.) education, screening, care coordination, risk reduction, screening, testing, and counseling for patients at risk of hepatitis.
With Targeted Capacity Expansion funding for MAT, NTC will enhance their current addictions program to:
1) Increase Access to MAT
2) Include Behavioral Health Services (BHS), Recovery Support Services (RSS), and Evidence Based Practices (EBP).
3) Mitigate risk of diversion with the use of Sublocade
4) Increase data collection and program evaluation activities
5) Implement MAT Outreach and Education
6) Build service delivery models with rural and resource limited organizations
7) Increase solution-focused interventions, referral resources, motivational interviewing, social and emotional support.
8) Provide education, screening, care coordination, risk reduction interventions, testing, and counseling for people with OUD who are at risk of hepatitis C.
9) Partner with CICADA to identify incarcerated individuals within four months of their release who may benefit from MAT services and reduce recidivism.
These enhancements to NTC MAT will increase sustained abstinence from Opioids, reduce risk of release, reduce risk, of overdoes, reduce risk of infectious disease, reduce risk of diversion, reduce risk of recidivism, increase the number of individuals receiving MAT, with and overall observed decrease in illicit opioid drug use and prescription misuse.