Targeted Outreach for Substance Use and Overdose Prevention: Preliminary Results of Two Initiatives in Hamilton County, Ohio

• In Event: Substance Use Deflection Programs in Ohio: Innovations, Outcomes, and Impact

Abstract

Over the past decade, the Hamilton County, Ohio Office of Addiction Response (HC-OAR) has been closely tracking opioid overdoses trends and using this data to inform ongoing prevention and intervention efforts. These data showed (a) a disproportionate uptick in overdose and overdose death rates of Black and African American residents and (b) repeated calls for service among a small number of individuals in a concentrated period and space. In response, HC-OAR sought and received funding to create and deploy two “targeted outreach” initiatives in the county: (1) an all-Black/African American Quick Response Team (QRT), which was responsible for overdose response and proactive outreach in the African American community, and (2) the Holistic Outreach for Priority People (HOPP) program, which leverages QRT members to deliver intensive case management to individuals who use substances, come in frequent contact with law enforcement, and live in areas with high drug usage and overdose rates. This presentation will describe these targeted outreach efforts, quantify their activities, and provide preliminary results of their effectiveness for reducing justice system involvement and re-overdose.

Authors

• Sarah Light, University of Cincinnati

• Brandon Nicholas Bledsoe, University of Cincinnati

• Sarah M. Manchak, University of Cincinnati