A new joint report from National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National League of Cities (NLC) examines how cities and counties can strengthen collaboration with each other and state, federal, private-sector and non-profit partners to tackle the opioid crisis.
Several of the recommendations are accompanied by existing local practices from cities and counties. The report also includes recommendations for state and federal officials, who are pivotal partners in local efforts to combat opioid misuse, diversion, overdose and death.
In countless communities across the nation, abuse of prescription drugs and heroin has reached epidemic levels, leading to unprecedented rates of drug overdoses and related fatalities. As this public health crisis has unfolded, local leaders are formulating effective responses. Much progress has been made on this front, but much work remains to be done. During this audience-focused town hall, NACo members will discuss local stories, successes and challenges with an expert panel that includes several members of the National City-County Task Force on the Opioid Epidemic.
National League of Cities’ James Brooks, writing in Texas Town & City, discusses the scope of the opioid epidemic, the value of data in fighting the crisis and provides several actions for officials at the local, state, and federal level.
“The number of opioid prescriptions being written is on the decline. Since a peak in 2010, the United States has seen a year after year reduction in the number of prescriptions for these painkillers through 2015. But, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Thursday, that decline doesn’t tell the…
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The Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.) is a nonprofit organization in Newton, Mass., that supports the Gloucester Police addiction initiatives, aids other police departments to implement similar programs and works to foster a dialogue around the unique opportunity for police departments to take direct action against the disease of drug addiction in their communities.…
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Mapping and analytics company Esri created an interactive series of maps demonstrating the widespread impact of opioids. The maps show where opioids are most prevalent and where drug poisoning deaths are happening across the country. Counties and cities can also learn how to map their own data to take action against abuse and addiction.
“Counties are continuing to grapple with the widening scope of the opioid drug epidemic.
Another county has filed suit against a pharmaceutical company that marketed painkillers, while King County continues to search for locations for its safe injection sites. Meanwhile, a synthetic drug is raising the stakes for users and first responders.”