Erie county NY first responder opioid epidemic task force support program - title: "erie county NY first responder opioid epidemic task force support program" the erie county, NY department of health,…

Erie county NY first responder opioid epidemic task force support program - title: "erie county NY first responder opioid epidemic task force support program" the erie county, NY department of health, on behalf of the erie county opioid epidemic task force, will enhance and expand a countywide first responder support services program to equip and train over 3,000 first responders from all 131 units (police and fire) in the county. The 2021 erie county opioid overdose rate exceeded the national rate by over 55%. This proposal targets first responder training/supply gaps and treatment initiation barriers to address this crisis. Since the start of the covid pandemic, erie county has experienced a precipitous increase in opioid overdose deaths, largely driven by fentanyl. At the same time, local harm reduction efforts by first responders were superseded by the covid surge - creating a "perfect storm" of overdose. The county has established a first responder support services leadership team to lead and sustain this initiative in response to growing needs. They will deploy a harm reduction service delivery model using evidence-based interventions to achieve three goals: goal 1) train / retrain first responders in overdose rescue procedures: OBJ. 1.1) trainings on use of naloxone with trauma informed approach; & OBJ. 1.2) trainings around fentanyl exposure safety. Goal 2) distribute naloxone & other harm reduction supplies to first responders & community settings: OBJ. 2.1) rescue supplies distributed to first responders; & OBJ. 2.2) wall boxes distributed to community locations. Goal 3) test peer-mediated telemedicine "low-threshold buprenorphine pilot": OBJ. 3.1) peer linkage of OD survivor to mat providers; & OBJ. 3.2) virtual field-initiation of mat with peer connection to after-hour call center (UB addiction medicine) with initial treatment follow-up linkage via the new york state matters APP. Evidence-based interventions will include harm reduction education and overdose prevention training, naloxone distribution, and peer support services, linking survivors to mat. The leadership team includes consumer representatives (advocates and those in recovery), first responder leaders, treatment provider representatives, the public health commissioner, the director of the erie county opiate epidemic task force (project director), the commissioner of mental health, and the university at buffalo evaluation partner. By equipping and training all first responders and targeted community areas over the 4-year project period, we expect that: (1) overdose deaths will drop 10% annually (from 310 to 225); (2) first responder rescues will decrease 10% annually (from 1,000 to 730); (3) a pilot program that is peer-mediated with responders will assist over 220 overdose survivors; (4) 50% of responder rescues will be referred to support services; and (5) 80% of referrals will be linked to treatment and support.