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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 & Toolkits2022-12-19
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. -
Document
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. -
Document
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. -
Document
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
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. -
County Profiles
Counties in Action
Learn how counties are demonstrating leadership and commitment to delivering effective abatement activities at the local level. -
Press Release
Counties Form National Network of Opioid Settlement Decision Makers
30 counties selected to represent county excellence in opioid settlement implementation
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Blog
New DOJ funding opportunities for counties to improve school security and reduce youth violence
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released three funding opportunities for counties to improve security at schools and reduce youth violence. -
Blog
Senate HELP Committee seeks comments on pandemic and all-hazards preparedness
On March 15, Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-La.) of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) released a request for information seeking input from public health officials, health care providers and other stakeholders on policies the Committee should consider during the reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act. -
Blog
NACo submits comments to Senate HELP Committee on health care workforce shortages
On March 2, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released a request for information from health care stakeholders on the causes of and solutions for current health care workforce shortages. -
Blog
Webinar Recap: County Strategies to Recruit and Retain a Strong Behavioral Health Workforce
For county governments, a strong and fully staffed behavioral health workforce is key to supporting people living with behavioral health conditions. Like other sectors, county governments are experiencing a shortage in local behavioral health workforce. -
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. -
Blog
Addressing social determinants of health with GIS technology
Discover the transformative power of GIS technology in addressing social determinants of health and building healthier communities.
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Webinar
County Leaders Championing Justice Efforts in Local Communities
April 5, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmCounties are directing resources to programs, practices and policies to reduce the overuse and misuse of the criminal legal system, improve public safety, better serve residents with behavioral health conditions and improve community stability and health.04052:00 pm<p>Counties are directing resources to programs, practices and policies to reduce the overuse and misuse of the criminal legal system, improve public safety, better serve residents with behavioral health conditions and improve communit
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Webinar
Reducing Jail Populations: Lowering Recidivism through Jail- and Community-Based Treatment and Services
April 6, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmReducing recidivism through effective jail- and community-based services can decrease jail admissions and populations and improve outcomes for people with criminal histories.04062:00 pm<p>Reducing recidivism through effective jail- and community-based services can decrease jail admissions and populations and improve outcomes for people with criminal histories.</p>
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Webinar
Strategies for Leveraging County Health Rankings Data to Improve Community Health
April 19, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmCounties play a key role in public health at the local level, as the conveners of multi-sector stakeholders, administrators of federal health-funding programs, like Medicaid, and providers of many crucial health services for residents.04192:00 pm<p>Counties play a key role in public health at the local level, as the conveners of multi-sector stakeholders, administrators of federal health-funding programs, like Medicaid, and providers of many crucial health services for residen
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The Stepping Up Initiative
In May 2015, NACo and partners at the CSG Justice Center and APA Foundation launched Stepping Up: A National Initiative to Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails.pagepagepage<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out">
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Reports & Toolkits
COVID-19 Recovery Clearinghouse
The COVID-19 Recovery Clearinghouse features timely resources for counties, including allocation estimations, examples of county programs using federal coronavirus relief funds, the latest news and more.Reports & Toolkitsdocument03127:15 pmReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="ad-block no-top-margin no-bullets">
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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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BlogWebinar Recap: County Strategies to Recruit and Retain a Strong Behavioral Health WorkforceMar. 21, 2023
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BlogCounty officials discuss harm reduction as a path forward through the overdose epidemicMar. 21, 2023
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BlogNew CDC data reveals rates of poor mental health and suicidality on the rise for youth in the U.S.Mar. 8, 2023
Related Resources
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Reports & ToolkitsPlanning Principles ToolkitMar. 6, 2023
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DocumentThe Principles Quick Guide to Conducting a Needs AssessmentFeb. 27, 2023
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Reports & ToolkitsThe County Role In Long-Term CareFeb. 24, 2023
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