The northampton department of health and human services (ndhhs) drug addiction recovery team (dart) enhanced model will provide deflection interventions at sequential intercepts zero and one to 20…

The City of Northampton, Massachusetts was awarded a $1,281,206 Project Grant from the Department of Justice's Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Other Substance Use Program (CFDA 16.838) to fund the DART (Drug Addiction Recovery Team) Enhanced Model. This 3-year initiative will provide deflection interventions at sequential intercepts zero and one across 20 communities in Western Massachusetts, including data collection and analysis to inform regional substance use disorder (SUD) efforts. Key goals are to improve engagement with historically underserved and marginalized communities, reduce SUD stigma, increase deflection of individuals with SUD and co-occurring disorders from the criminal justice system, and reduce high opioid overdose death rates in the region. The grant will fund culturally-attuned recovery coaches, increase non-police response to overdoses, expand naloxone distribution, and continue real-time data collection and evaluation. This funding builds upon the Northampton Department of Health and Human Services' existing multi-sector partnerships and leadership in addressing the opioid crisis in Western Massachusetts.

The northampton department of health and human services (ndhhs) drug addiction recovery team (dart) enhanced model will provide deflection interventions at sequential intercepts zero and one to 20 communities in hampshire and hampden counties in western massachusetts and will provide regional data collection and synthesis for the region, including an additional 10 communities in berkshire county. Ndhhs played a leadership role throughout the opioid crisis in western massachusetts and is committed to continuing to strengthen that work. The proposed project will build upon ndhhss current multi-sector, cross-county foundation of police departments, recovery centers, behavioral health and treatment providers, and hospitals. The specific aim of the enhanced model is to improve engagement with communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized and adversely affected by inequality. The dart model consists of teams of first responders, recovery coaches, and harm reductionists who offer free support to people who use drugs, and their families, after an opioid overdose or other high risk substance use. Ndhhs will collaborate with local recovery centers to hire two culturally attuned recovery coaches, with the goal of more effectively reaching nonwhite and homeless individuals with SUD, as well as persons with CO-occurring SUD and mental health disorders. Moreover, ndhhs will shift its model to ensure that more post-overdose responses are conducted by a non-police dart member whenever possible to increase engagement with persons from historically marginalized groups. Secondly, ndhhs plans to conduct outreach activities in communities in the catchment area that are most impacted by environmental harms and risks (known as environmental justice communities), as people living in these overburdened communities may be more at risk for drug use and overdose. The goal of these activities is to reduce SUD stigma and increase deflection of individuals with SUD and cooccurringdisorders prior to police intervention. Thirdly, dart will continue to support partnering police departments in obtaining an ongoing supply of naloxone and will expand distribution to individuals likely to reverse an overdose in the community. Lastly, dart will continue its focus on real-time data collection and analysis and utilize the umass center for program evaluation to support evaluation of program efficacy and quality assurance. Dart aims to divert individuals with SUD and CO-occurring disorders from involvement with the criminal justice system and reduce the high rates of opioid overdose deaths in the region, specifically among historically marginalized groups.