Jefferson county strategies for coordinating prevention efforts (scope) - the population of focus for the proposed jefferson county strategies for coordinating overdose prevention efforts (JC scope)…

Jefferson county strategies for coordinating prevention efforts (scope) - the population of focus for the proposed jefferson county strategies for coordinating overdose prevention efforts (JC scope) project is approximately 540 first responders (FRS) including emergency medical technicians (emts), paramedics, firefighters, and law enforcement officers from up to 22 emergency medical service (EMS) and fire departments. These departments are in direct contact with individuals of all ages who experience a non-fatal overdose or who have an opioid use disorder (OUD) and are at risk of overdose in jefferson county, OH. Compared to other ohio counties, jefferson county (JC) has been particularly hard HIT by the opioid epidemic and FRS are on the front lines of the response. The purpose of the JC scope project is to change the practice of EMS departments so all individuals encountered by targeted FRS will experience a decreased risk of overdose in the future. The project will address seminal barriers to linking overdose patients to emergency department and substance use disorder treatment and to sustaining the role of EMS as a significant resource for reducing overdoses. JC scope training and evaluation goals and objectives include increasing and evaluating FR knowledge and skills to (1) use naloxone to treat known or suspected opioid overdoses in a stigma-free environment; (2) leave behind naloxone and resources with all individuals at risk of an opioid overdose; (3) ensure FR safety and appropriate identification of and response to fentanyl, carfentanil, and other dangerous illicit drugs and illicit drugs exposure; and (4) use motivational interviewing (MI) and trauma-informed care to screen and conduct referrals to appropriate treatment and nontreatment resources. Over four years, 540 unduplicated FRS will be trained resulting in 95% carrying and utilizing naloxone. By the end of the program, 80% of patients who encounter a JC FR due to an overdose will be screened for OUD with 10% referred to treatment and nontreatment resources. Further, naloxone will be left with every person identified at risk for overdose, and real-time data characterizing the services provided will be collected for all encounters by all trained FRS.