Project Abstract
Project Summary: Washington State SOR IV is designed to address Washington (WA) State’s opioid epidemic by implementing the 2021-2022 WA State Opioid and Overdose Response Plan (Plan), comprised of five goals: (1) Prevent opioid and other drug misuse; (2) Identify and treat opioid misuse and stimulant use disorder; (3) Ensure and improve the health and wellness of people who use opioids and other drugs; (4) Use data and information to detect opioid misuse, monitor drug user health effects, analyze population health and evaluate interventions; and (5) Support individuals in recovery.
The WA State Health Care Authority/Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) will implement SOR IV through strategies related to Goals 1 ,2, 3, and 5 in the Plan. Goal 1 (Prevent opioid and other drug misuse): Fund at least 22 Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI) coalitions in high-need communities; serve 40 communities through community-based organization (CBO) grants; provide statewide prevention services including prescriber education, Starts with One public education campaign, workforce development enhancements, Opioid Summit, and Evidence-based programming. Goal 2-3 (ID & treat opioid and stimulant use disorder & Ensure and improve the health and wellness of people who use opioids and other drugs): enhance provider’s capacity to provide medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), stimulant use disorder assessment and treatment, and screening, testing and/or referrals for HIV and viral hepatitis by funding 13 Opioid Treatment Networks (OTNs) and 5 OTN Hub & Spokes (H&Ss); provide training, technical assistance, and tobacco cessation program support to OTNs and H&Ss and provide Nicotine Replacement Therapy to Syringe Services Programs; provide MOUD inductions to incarcerated individuals prior to release, expand referrals to reduce recidivism and overdoses; and provide Tribal opioid prevention/treatment/harm reduction/recovery grants to address unmet needs of Tribal communities. Provide a Tribal media campaign to promote the use of MOUD and inform Tribal members of the presence and dangers of Fentanyl. Infuse harm reduction supplies and services throughout the OTNs and OTN H&Ss. Goal 5 (Support Individuals in Recovery): provide peer and recovery services in high need counties and rural areas; provide Peer PathFinder project and recovery support services for individuals with opioid and stimulant use disorders; and provide funding for harm reduction services and supplies to individuals receiving recovery support services and Peer PathFinder services.
Key populations of focus will include Prevention: communities with elevated risk scores; opioid prescribers for adolescents and adults; parents; tribal communities; youth; pregnant and parenting women; and older adults. Treatment and Recovery: individuals with opioid and/or stimulant use disorder, those at risk for overdose, including individuals with HIV and/or viral hepatitis; SUD treatment providers; rural/frontier communities; individuals reentering communities from incarceration; and Tribes.
DBHR expects to serve more than 20,000 WA residents within the initial year of the grant award and 40,000 residents over three years. In addition, SOR IV projects will reach millions of WA residents through local and statewide media campaigns and trainings.
Washington State