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.
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.
Funding from the national 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.
Resource
Advancing Health Equity Through County Opioid Abatement Strategies
Opioids: How Settlement Dollars Advance City and County Opioid Abatement
Building on a strong history of collaboration, including the National City-County Task Force on Opioids, NACo and the National League of Cities examined preliminary data on the distribution of opioid settlement dollars across cities, counties and states. This brief highlights how cities and counties are working together to abate the overdose crisis, including pooling opioid settlement funds to create a more comprehensive system of care for people with substance use disorder.
Technical Assistance from the Opioid Response Network
NACo is collaborating with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration-funded Opioid Response Network (ORN). ORN offers no-cost, evidence-based training and education to meet local needs in addressing the opioid crisis.
Counties in Action
While each county is navigating a unique combination of legal and administrative processes, all counties are working commendably to ensure these funds make the greatest possible difference in our communities. These examples provide a snapshot of how counties are quickly and strategically employing settlement funds to save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
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