COPE Community Services, Inc. (COPE) proposes to implement Project Elevate to address the critical need for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment in Pima County, AZ. Project Elevate will serve 200 adults and youth ages 16-17 over five years (40 per year) with expanded access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) integrated with evidence-based psychosocial treatment strategies designed to improve OUD-related outcomes and sustain long-term recovery.
Adults and youth ages 16-17 with OUD in Pima County face a daunting set of risk factors exacerbated by the COVID19 pandemic. According to NSDUH data, in 2019 a higher percentage of adults between the ages of 18-25 in AZ (1.2%) experienced OUD than in the rest of the region (.8%). In the past two years, Pima County has seen a steep increase in opioid-related overdose deaths. Increasing deaths were disproportionately borne by young adults and Black and American Indian communities. Additionally, there is a critical need for MAT services for youth; COPE is the only outpatient treatment provider in AZ with MAT services for youth. In response to this increase in need for OUD treatment services, Project Elevate will serve adults and youth ages 16-17 with OUD. Based on county demographics and previous programming, it is anticipated that clients will identify as approximately 25% Hispanic/Latino, 6% Black, 6% American Indian, 2% two or more races, and 61% White non-Hispanic.
COPE's existing MAT treatment is the foundation of the Project Elevate expansion of services. Through integration of MAT and supportive psychosocial services, Project Elevate will approach OUD as a chronic condition requiring comprehensive treatment with a harm-reduction focus. COPE's extensive experience with the focus population combined with the effectiveness of the proposed services will ensure success of Project Elevate's goals: 1) expand access to MAT and related services to adults and youth ages 16-17 with OUD; 2) provide psychosocial and recovery support services; and 3) improve OUD-related outcomes among Project Elevate clients.
In combination with best practices for outreach, engagement, and retention, Project Elevate will implement MAT with an array of evidence-based treatment programs: SMART Recovery, Matrix Model IOP, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Contingency Management (for youth). These interventions all have a strong research base supporting their use for the targeted outcomes, which include the following: 85% achieving treatment adherence, reducing opioid use, improving criminal justice involvement, and improving social connectedness.
Project Elevate will implement services through an equity and inclusion lens, designed to reach diverse populations and reduce outcome disparities. Project Elevate service plans will be tailored to each client, in recognition that MAT must be individualized and integrated into outpatient treatment. COPE is ready to implement Project Elevate and expand MAT and accompanying treatment to meet the crucial need for OUD treatment in Pima County.