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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. -
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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
Opioid Solutions Center: 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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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
Naloxone to Reverse Opioid Overdose
Jump to Section Additional Resources References -
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Reports & Toolkits
Increasing Access to Evidence-Based Treatment
Increasing Access to Evidence-Based Treatment: A NACo Opioid Solutions Strategy Brief -
Reports & Toolkits
Treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
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County Profiles
Opioid Solutions Center: Counties in Action
Learn how counties are demonstrating leadership and commitment to delivering effective abatement activities at the local level.
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Webinar
New Options to Combat Summer Hunger: What Counties Need to Know
Sep. 21, 2023 , 1:00 pmSummer hunger impacts too many children when they lose access to nutritious school meals. -
Webinar
Building and Supporting Comprehensive Behavioral Health Crisis Response Systems
Sep. 14, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmIn response to a growing need for behavioral health care services, counties are working to establish and bolster access to comprehensive continuums of care for their community members. -
Webinar
Behavioral Health Town Hall: Best Practices to Support the County Workforce
Sep. 13, 2023 , 1:00 pm – 2:00 pmBehavioral health issues in the workforce come with a significant impact. Join this webinar to get a better understanding of the current gaps in treatment, the benefits of investing in employee health in a meaningful way, conventional solutions that every county can use, and an innovative program that reaches people before they are in crisis. -
Blog
CMS proposes new minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities
On September 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would impose minimum staffing standards for the approximately 758 county-owned or operated long-term care facilities that participate in Medicare or Medicaid. -
Blog
Senate HELP and House Energy and Commerce pass PAHPA reauthorizations out of committee with amendments
The week of July 17, both the U.S. House Energy and Commerce and U.S. -
Reports & Toolkits
NACo Analysis: Overview of New Treasury Guidance for ARPA Flexibility Legislation
On August 10, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) released an Interim Final Rule (IFR) for the bipartisan State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act
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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<p>NACo’s Healthy Counties Initiative creates and sustains healthy counties by supporting collaboration and sharing evidence-informed approaches to pressing health issues.
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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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BlogThe County Countdown – August 7, 2023Aug. 7, 2023
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BlogThe County Countdown – July 24, 2023Jul. 24, 2023
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BlogCommunity Mental Health Services May Support Reducing Jail PopulationsJul. 19, 2023
Related Resources
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Reports & ToolkitsNACo Analysis: Overview of New Treasury Guidance for ARPA Flexibility LegislationAug. 11, 2023
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Reports & ToolkitsThe Principles Quick Guide to Creating a Settlement CouncilAug. 1, 2023
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Reports & ToolkitsPlanning Principles ToolkitAug. 1, 2023
Upcoming Events
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28Sep2023Webinar
How Overloaded County IT Organizations Can Address Traditional and New AI-Generated Cyber Threats
Sep. 28, 2023 , 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm -
28Sep2023Webinar
BRECC National Network Learning Series: The Nuts and Bolts of Community Benefits Plans
Sep. 28, 2023 , 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm -
3Oct2023Webinar
NACo Information Series on Treasury’s ARPA Flexibility Guidance: Relief from Natural Disasters
Oct. 3, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
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