- In Massachusetts, “Hampden County Officials Tout Rapid Response Team [In] Decline In Overdose Incidents.” For WAMC, James Paleologopoulos reports that “local officials are reporting progress and touting a special team that’s been making inroads… [in] Hampden County [which has] one of the highest opioid overdose rates in the commonwealth.” The Rapid Response and Connection Team “provides direct outreach to individuals within 24-72 hours post an overdose occurrence and to those who are at-risk [of a future overdose].” During the outreach, the team “connects individuals to immediate services, case-management, follow-up and … provides support and treatment resources as well as Narcan.” Since its launch, the team has made “2,235 outreach attempts [and has] helped get 231 individuals into treatment…”
District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, a champion of the overdose response team, explained to the news station why he supports the team responding to to these kinds of calls, instead of other first responders like law enforcement or paramedics: “there is direct outreach to them and to their families within 24 hours after that incident, really reaching out at that vulnerable time to ensure that services are provided in a very non-threatening way to make sure that individual going through that experience has an opportunity towards recovery and doesn’t return to substance use…” - In Virginia, Prince George County Launches “Mobile Overdose Response Unit” That “Brings Addiction Response And Recovery Support Directly To People’s Doorsteps.” For WRIC, Sahara Sriraman reports on the county’s new Mobile Overdose Response Unit, a “first-of-its-kind” in the region “aimed at saving lives and breaking the cycle of addiction.” The team, unlike traditional emergency response from police or medics, “is designed to step in after the initial overdose incident — typically within 48 to 72 hours — and offer personalized, sustained support…. helping them create recovery plans, attend meetings or access services such as detox, outpatient therapy and social support.” The team also serves a prevention role in the county, visiting “local schools, faith organizations and civic groups to raise awareness about addiction, recovery and the resources available, especially in rural areas where conversations around opioid use often happen behind closed doors.”
- In Kentucky, “If A Louisvillian Overdoses, This Team Will Be There.” For the Louisville Courier Journal, Eleanor McCrary reports on the city’s Quick Response Team, which “each day, receives a list of referrals from Louisville Metro EMS, Louisville Fire and area police departments” where there has been an overdose recently. The team then “visits people who have experienced an overdose within 72 hours and… “delivers Narcan, to individuals and family members, refers people to medication for opioid use disorder and other treatment services… refers people to other resources including mental and physical healthcare, utility assistance, housing…” Since launching, the team has responded to 7,200 calls, “distributed more than 3,000 units of Narcan and has referred about 250 people to treatment.”
