Project paso libre: medication assisted treatment - prescription drug and opioid addiction - the association for the advancement of mexican americans (aama) proposes to implement project paso libre,…

Project paso libre: medication assisted treatment - prescription drug and opioid addiction - the association for the advancement of mexican americans (aama) proposes to implement project paso libre, to expand/enhance access to their current medication-assisted treatment (mat) program for persons with an opioid use disorder (OUD) residing in laredo, TX on the texas/mexico border. The desired outcomes for this program are: 1) an increase in the number of individuals with OUD receiving mat; 2) a decrease in illicit opioid drug use and prescription opioid misuse at six-month follow-up; and 3) an improvement in the quality of life of individuals receiving mat at aama's laredo site. Project paso libre will achieve these outcomes by increasing the number of individuals receiving mat, adding use of injection burepinephrine, and CO-locating mat, behavioral health, and recovery support services under one location. The project will incorporate practices that have been researched and deemed effective with the OUD population to include: the matrix model, cognitive behavioral therapy, seeking safety, and motivational enhancement therapy. Currently aama has two physicians that have attained data waivers and are ready to expand mat in the laredo area. Project paso libre will accomplish the following smart objectives: 1) by 1/30/21, review and improve current infrastructure, workforce development, partnerships, and policy/procedures to increase access to mat for adults residing on the texas/mexico border. 2) by 12/30/21, project paso libre will begin community engagement and project promotion, targeting opioid users, as well as primary care providers. 3) by 9/29/26, project paso libre will have provided 400 new opioid users with mat and support services at aama's laredo location. 4) by 9/29/26, project paso libre will have trained 100 new healthcare providers in the community on opioid addictions, mat, stigma, and other OUD and COD relevant topics. 5) by 12/30/21 and biannually thereafter, evaluator and PD will implement a quality improvement plan to determine if the desired goals are achieved and if adjustments need to be made. To accomplish these goals and fulfill the purpose of the grant, aama will assign/hire experienced and competent staff that includes a medical director, project director, project coordinator, two licensed vocational nurses, two licensed chemical dependency counselor, a recovery support coach, and an experienced external evaluator.