Sunday, May 19, 2024
5/19/2024
The Atlantic County Sheriff's Office which has jurisdiction over 23 municipalities in Atlantic County, New Jersey, including the gambling community of Atlantic City, proposes a partnership with Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine to increase the availability of naloxone to 1,400 first responders and the community using a train-the-trainer approach, provide training on safe handling of fentanyl and carefentanil, and provide outreach to overdose survivors. In 2017, more than 70,000 individuals were killed nationwide due to drug overdoses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2017, the drug overdose death rate in New Jersey increased 29% from the previous year, the largest in the nation. Cureently, New Jersey ranks 9th in the US for the total number (2,685) of overdose deaths. The gerographic catchment area for the project will be Atlantic County, New Jersey, which has the largest overdose drug death rate of New Jersey's 21 counties and ranks number one in the state for the number of residents with opiste use disorders that entered treatment in 2018. Between 2015 and 2017, fentanyl overdose death rates increased 250% in Atlantic County. Currently, over 50% of the nearly 200 overdose deaths annually in Atlantic County are due to fentanyl. The population of focus will be first responders and survivors of an opiate overdose. First responders will include police officers, emergency medical technicians, firefighters, casino security personnel, and individuals with opiate use disorders and their families. The project will address the lack of a uniform naloxone training program in Atlantic County's first responder system and the lack of a quick response team that includes police officers, EMT, behavioral health, and medical personnel that can provide compassionate outreach and treatment resources to overdose survivors. The goals of the project are designed to address these needs and align with the required activities listed in the funding opportunity announcement, including 1) developing an Atlantic County Overdose Advisory Council to support enhanced naloxone training throughout the county and to ensure that the goals and objectives are met; 2) providing naloxone training to at least 1,400 first responders and community members using a train-the-trainer approach; 3) training at least 1,000 first responders and 400 members of the community on the safety of fentanyl, carfentanil, and other analogs; and 4) providing compassionate outreach to overdose survivors through a project funded Atlantic County Quick Response Team that includes a police officer, EMT, social worker, substance use counselor, and a medical student. Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine will provide the training on naloxone and safety around fentanyl and carfentanil and organize a schedule for medical students to participate on the quick response team. Maryville Addiction Treatment Center, which is one of New Jersey's largest providers of treatment for substance use disorders, will serve on the Advisory Council to enhance treatment access. Rowan's Office of Research will help the county collect real-time data collection during overdose events, GIS mapping, and perform the evaluation of the project.
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).
