06
October
2017
|
09:10 AM
America/New_York

With a $1.9 Million Grant, We’ll Do Even More to Battle the Opioid Crisis

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The MetroHealth System has been awarded a four-year $1.9 million federal grant to battle the opioid crisis in Cuyahoga County. With the funds, we’ll establish the MetroHealth First Responders Project (FRP), which will:

Increase access to the overdose-reversing drug naloxone. A spike in overdoses has created a shortage of this life-saving drug. The FRP will be able to distribute an additional 1,600 kits to law enforcement, opioid users and their families every year. The goal is to have at least 95 percent of law enforcement agencies across Cuyahoga County carrying and distributing naloxone.

Provide training. The FRP will teach citizens how to reverse overdoses with naloxone. It will also offer web-based and in-person training to every Cuyahoga County law enforcement agency.

Boost prevention, treatment and recovery. The FRP will not just treat overdoses; it’ll work to stop addiction. The grant will allow MetroHealth’s Project DAWN to hire an additional full-time staff member to expand overdose prevention efforts. The FRP will also create the Hope after Overdose Outreach Project (HOOP). The HOOP team – social workers and local police officers – will visit survivors’ homes within a week of their overdose to provide information, education and an immediate path into treatment.

Emily Metz, program coordinator for Project DAWN, will serve as project director of FRP.

The four-year $1.9 million grant is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.