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Helping Communities Address the Opioid Crisis
Learn how our work on the opioid crisis has helped an Ohio county implement a coordinated and effective response.
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Overview
Lorain County, Ohio was struggling with a high rate of opioid overdoses. A local foundation enlisted Altarum to aid the community in creating a roadmap to guide the response and ensure efficient use of all available resources. We employed a three-phased approach of analyzing the problem, engaging the community in strategic planning, and identifying best practices and recommendations for action.
Our Approach
During Phase I, we completed an environmental scan and identified geographic gaps in the distribution of the county’s existing local treatment and recovery services. In Phase II, we conducted interviews and held focus groups with dozens of local stakeholders, including professionals in recovery service, health care, government, and faith-based and criminal justice organizations. And in Phase III, we reviewed evidence-based practices to address the opioid crisis that are relevant to the community.
Results
We assembled this information into a roadmap that the community is now implementing. Because of our work, the county is employing effective practices informed by evidence, coordinating care more efficiently across organizations, and directing resources where the need is greatest. |