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Reports & ToolkitsNACo’s Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.Opioid Solutions Center
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Opioid Solutions Center
NACo's Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
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- Approved Strategies
- Opioid Solutions Leadership Network
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Counties are on the frontline of the opioid epidemic, providing public services that save lives and support recovery. Our 911 call centers and county-run crisis lines are the first to receive calls for help when an overdose happens. Our first responders, and increasingly mental health clinicians, are the first to arrive on the scene to stabilize the crisis and offer support. Our local crisis triage centers serve as safe places before, during and after a behavioral health crisis to access services, treatment and immediate and ongoing care.
The Opioid Epidemic: Counties on the Frontline
Watch | Opioid Epidemic: Counties on the Front Line
New funding from opioid settlements presents an opportunity for counties to sustain and strengthen our response to the ongoing opioid epidemic. To help counties maximize the impact of this unique funding stream, NACo is developing custom planning, implementation and peer learning resources through the Opioid Solutions Center.
The Opioid Solutions Center is home to featured resources, such as:
- Planning Principles Toolkit: a toolkit with guidance on planning, allocating and managing opioid litigation funds.
- Approved Strategies: a series of short-form briefs presenting key information about effective substance use prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction approaches that are approved uses of the settlement funds.
- Technical Assistance: Direct links to technical assistance and other funding and training opportunities to support local implementation of approved strategies.
- County Examples: a series of case studies and examples describing how states and counties have leveraged their opioid settlement funds to stand up programs and practices that work.
NACo’s Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.2022-10-12Reports & Toolkits2023-04-11
NACo's Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
Jump to Section |
Counties are on the frontline of the opioid epidemic, providing public services that save lives and support recovery. Our 911 call centers and county-run crisis lines are the first to receive calls for help when an overdose happens. Our first responders, and increasingly mental health clinicians, are the first to arrive on the scene to stabilize the crisis and offer support. Our local crisis triage centers serve as safe places before, during and after a behavioral health crisis to access services, treatment and immediate and ongoing care.
The Opioid Epidemic: Counties on the Frontline |
New funding from opioid settlements presents an opportunity for counties to sustain and strengthen our response to the ongoing opioid epidemic. To help counties maximize the impact of this unique funding stream, NACo is developing custom planning, implementation and peer learning resources through the Opioid Solutions Center.
The Opioid Solutions Center is home to featured resources, such as:
- Planning Principles Toolkit: a toolkit with guidance on planning, allocating and managing opioid litigation funds.
- Approved Strategies: a series of short-form briefs presenting key information about effective substance use prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction approaches that are approved uses of the settlement funds.
- Technical Assistance: Direct links to technical assistance and other funding and training opportunities to support local implementation of approved strategies.
- County Examples: a series of case studies and examples describing how states and counties have leveraged their opioid settlement funds to stand up programs and practices that work.

About Samantha Karon (Full Bio)
Senior Program Manager – Substance Use Disorder
Samantha is NACo’s senior program manager for substance use disorder. She is responsible for managing projects to convene and catalyze county leaders as they leverage multiple funding streams to address substance use disorders in their communities.More from Samantha Karon
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Reports & Toolkits
Planning Principles Toolkit
Tools, templates and strategic guidance for maximizing the impact of opioid settlement funds on your community’s opioid abatement priorities. -
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Opioid Solutions: Approved Strategies
The two largest opioid settlements include requirements on how funds can be spent. Learn more about approved uses of the funds that are high-impact and under county authority. -
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Brief History of the Opioid Settlements
Learn more about national opioid settlements reached in 2022. -
Document
The Opioid Solutions Leadership Network
The Opioid Solutions Leadership Network is a learning and leadership-building community of county officials pursuing innovative and evidence-based solutions with opioid settlement funds. -
County Profiles
Counties in Action
Learn how counties are demonstrating leadership and commitment to delivering effective abatement activities at the local level. -
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Opioid Solutions: Technical Assistance
Learn about free technical assistance opportunities and additional funding opportunities to strengthen county opioid abatement. -
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Stay Up-To-Date on the Opioid Solutions Center
Sign up for our newsletter and stay up-to-date on the NACo Opioid Solutions Center.
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Blog
How counties can extend the reach of drug disposal programs with at-home drug deactivation and disposal
This blog post is sponsored by NACo partner Deterra. Empower Your Community: Enhance Drug Disposal Programs with At-Home Deactivation & Disposal Solutions -
Blog
Opioid settlement deadline for counties looms April 18
Counties have until April 18 to sign on to participate in the allocation of billions of dollars in settlements from the “big three” pharmacies. -
Blog
County officials discuss harm reduction as a path forward through the overdose epidemic
Dr. Gregory Wm. Branch, director of the Baltimore County, Md. Department of Health and Human Services, speaks at NACo’s 2023 Legislative Conference. Photo by Leon Lawrence III. -
Reports & Toolkits
Planning Principles Toolkit
Tools, templates and strategic guidance for maximizing the impact of opioid settlement funds on your community’s opioid abatement priorities. -
Reports & Toolkits
Medication-Assisted Treatment (“MAT”) for Opioid Use Disorder
This resource summarizes the evidence behind medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. -
Reports & Toolkits
Effective Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder for Incarcerated Populations
This resource describes evidence-based practices for the treatment of opioid use disorder for incarcerated persons.
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County News
County reshapes justice system for women battling mental health issues
Problem: Too many women who needed mental health support were being incarcerated and left untreated. Solution: -
Blog
U.S. Surgeon General releases Advisory and National Strategy to Advance Social Connection
On May 2, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a Surgeon General’s Advisory entitled, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” highlighting the growing number of individuals in the U.S. -
Press Release
National Association of Counties Releases Data on Mental Health Crisis
Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing Advocates for Policy Solutions at White House, on Capitol Hill -
Webinar
Familiar Faces Initiative: Model Jurisdictions for Improving Outcomes through Coordinated Health and Justice Systems
May. 11, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:30 pmIn 2022, NACo relaunched the Familiar Faces Initiative during Mental Health Awareness Month to support counties and cities in better meeting the needs of their familiar faces—individuals with complex health and behavioral health conditions who frequently cycle through jails, homeless shelters, emergency departments and other crisis service -
Reports & Toolkits
Behavioral Health Conditions Reach Crisis Levels: Counties Urge Stronger Intergovernmental Partnership and Outcomes
Counties are facing an acute escalation of the mental and behavioral health crisis. In a recent NACo survey, 75 percent of counties reported an increase in the incidence of behavioral health conditions over the past year and 89 percent reported an increase compared to five years ago. -
Blog
How counties can extend the reach of drug disposal programs with at-home drug deactivation and disposal
This blog post is sponsored by NACo partner Deterra. Empower Your Community: Enhance Drug Disposal Programs with At-Home Deactivation & Disposal Solutions
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Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
June 13, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmNote: This convening will focus on strategies for rural and smaller suburban counties. To learn more about strategies for urban counties, please join the June 15 session.06132:00 pm<p><strong>Note: This convening will focus on strategies for rural and smaller suburban counties.
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Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
June 15, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmNote: This convening will focus on strategies for urban and larger suburban counties. To learn more about strategies for rural counties, please join the June 13 session.06152:00 pm<p><strong>Note: This convening will focus on strategies for urban and larger suburban counties.
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Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid, a skills-based training administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges in their peers, friends and colleaguepagepagepage<h3><strong>WHY MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID?</strong></h3>
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Healthy Counties Initiative
Healthy Counties focuses on enhancing: public-private partnerships in local health delivery, access to, and coordination of, care for vulnerable populations in the community and community public health and behavioral health programs.pagepagepage<h3>Healthy Counties focuses on enhancing:</h3>
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Live Healthy U.S. Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) Live Healthy Prescription, Health & Dental Discount Program is a NO-COST program available to all member counties.pagepagepage<h1>With <a id="naco" name="naco">NACo</a>, Saving Feels Better</h1>
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Justice & Public Safety Steering Committee
All matters pertaining to criminal justice and public safety systems, including criminal justice planning, law enforcement, courts, corrections, homeland security, community crime prevention, juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, emergency management, fire prevention and control, and civil disturbances.pagepagepage<p>All matters pertaining to criminal justice and public safety systems, including criminal justice planning, law enforcement, courts, corrections, homeland security, community crime prevention, juvenile justice and delinquency preven
Contact
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Senior Program Manager – Substance Use Disorder(202) 661-8857
Related News
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BlogU.S. Surgeon General releases Advisory and National Strategy to Advance Social ConnectionMay. 23, 2023
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BlogBipartisan legislation introduced in House and Senate to address Medicaid Inmate Exclusion PolicyMay. 9, 2023
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BlogCMS releases guidance on new opportunity for pre-release Medicaid coverage for incarcerated individualsApr. 27, 2023
Related Resources
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Press ReleaseNational Association of Counties Releases Data on Mental Health CrisisMay. 11, 2023
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Reports & ToolkitsBehavioral Health Conditions Reach Crisis Levels: Counties Urge Stronger Intergovernmental Partnership and OutcomesMay. 11, 2023
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Press ReleaseCounties Recognize Mental Health Awareness MonthMay. 1, 2023
Related Events
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13Jun2023Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
Jun. 13, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm -
15Jun2023Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
Jun. 15, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Upcoming Events
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12Jun2023
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13Jun2023Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
Jun. 13, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm -
15Jun2023Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
Jun. 15, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
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