Rural communities opioid response program-impact - the opioid epidemic in NY state is unfortunately accelerating at a faster rate than in most states in the nation, and much of western NY has the…

Rural communities opioid response program-impact - the opioid epidemic in NY state is unfortunately accelerating at a faster rate than in most states in the nation, and much of western NY has the highest rates of opioid overdoses and deaths in NY state overall. Casa-trinity's western NY rural alliance: communities that heal (wnyra:CTH) initiative will address the critical opioid epidemic in six counties in western NY: allegany, cattaraugus, chautauqua, livingston steuben and wyoming. With technical assistance and expertise from columbia university in the evidence-based communities that heal (CTH) and opioid-overdose reduction continuum of care approach (ORCAA), wnyra:CTH, a coalition of nine core partners and multitudes of other partners will involve the entire community in addressing opioid use disorder (OUD), including adding critically needed medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) services in two counties, adding two recovery centers and expanding the services of a third recovery center to include employment services, and adding a total of five certified recovery peer advocates (crpa- peers) to better connect persons with OUD, with special focus on the justice-involved population, children and adolescents, pregnant women, rural farmers, persons with disabilities and the seneca nation of indians. Peers are people with lived-experience with SUD/OUD and are best able to engage and support persons with OUD in their long-term recovery and assist them in accessing any supports they may need to overcome obstacles to their recovery. A peer affiliated with the hospital in chautauqua county will directly connect persons with OUD with needed services. As a result of these additional services, over 4,500 people (UNDUPLICATED) will receive needed service for OUD over four years, including over 2,300 receiving treatment services and over 2,200 benefitting from recovery services, with half of each number likely to access both services. In addition to vastly expanding the availability of treatment an D recovery services for people with OUD, the project involves innovative approaches to reach the most rural of the rural populations, including engaging and supporting informal community leaders to reduce the stigma associated with OUD, and discreetly but directly connecting rural farmers and others to OUD services. An innovative connection with 211 (nationwide information and referral service) on a SUD-specific texting program will also help to connect people to services. The project also includes developing better linkages with schools, jails and prenatal providers to better connect the populations these groups serve to treatment. Xylazine and fentanyl-adulterated drugs are emerging threats, and test strips for these will be distributed so that people using drugs can test their supply and reduce the likelihood of overdose and death. Methods are included to improve and sustain the workforce, promoting from within and growing our own to address shortages of a qualified workforce, embedding new skills and abilities through training, and helping to ensure that future health professionals such as physician assistant students understand SUD/OUD issues and how they are an integral part of each person's overall health. All treatment and recovery services being developed are expected to be sustainable after grant funding ends. The wnyra:CTH will also develop a continuity of operations plan for the region to sustain long-term recovery.