Project Title: Georgia State Opioid Response (SOR) IV Project.
Project Summary: Population to be served are individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) in high need areas of the state where service capacity is possible, and infrastructure exists to implement SOR funded treatment and recovery services for the population of focus.
It is estimated that 1,600 persons with OUD will be served each year of the three-year project for a total of 4,800 persons. In addition, approximately 8,500 a year will receive training and/or prevention services and media campaigns and community engagement activities will reach an additional 1,000,000 over the three-year project period.
Building on the current infrastructure for treatment, recovery and prevention services implemented through the Georgia State Opioid Response (SOR) project that began in 2018, Georgia plan to continue to expand the continuum of prevention and recovery-oriented treatment services in high need areas of the state that have providers with capacity and expertise related to OUD. Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) will continue to be implemented in all areas of Georgia as needed. Like treatment and recovery services, Georgia SOR prevention services will build on activities that have been implemented as part of the SOR 1,2, and 3 projects. Activities will include an expanded media campaign, expanded Naloxone first responder training, implementing a College Adopt a school program, a law enforcement education and training partnership, implementation of Sources of Strength program statewide, and increasing healthcare professionals' education and understanding of the state's opioid crisis.
Project goals include:
Goal 1: Expand and sustain treatment and recovery support services in high need areas that contain providers with capacity and expertise related to Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).
Goal 2: Expand and maintain recovery support services for individuals with OUD.
Goal 3: Provide training and education for SOR IV treatment and recovery providers.
Goal 4: Continue and expand naloxone distribution to include systems statewide not currently included in current naloxone provision and training.
Goal 5: Continue to increase awareness and education about Georgia’s opioid epidemic, preventing opioid abuse and misuse, best practices, and use of naloxone.
Goal 6: Continue to increase youth protective factors, reduce risk factors, and improve resistance to substance use and abuse among middle and high school youth.
Goal 7: Increase healthcare professionals’ education and understanding of Georgia’s opioid crisis and best practices. Build healthcare professionals’ awareness, knowledge, and skills around PDMP use, overprescribing, maternal substance abuse, and assessing and referring substance abuse and opioid misuse among patients.