THIS COULD HELP! –

Jan. 18, 2024 – The inability to access medication-assisted treatment is one of the main barriers that prevents people from trying it, Ilg said. At the same time, she explained, people who have a nonfatal overdose are 13 times more likely to die, compared to the general population. “It is literally taking first responders, connecting them into a system and a pathway towards recovery,” Gonzalez said. “But we’ve got a lot of people hurting, and the solutions are going to have to be comprehensive.”

Local health officials say they’re not sure yet how many people they’ll be able to treat, but the grant funding runs through June 2025 and a single dose of oral buprenorphine costs about $1. A team made up of a nurse, paramedic, community health worker and peer support specialist will have “daily contact by phone” or in person and will also do a 90-day follow up with patients.

“Opioid use disorder is not a moral failing,” Ilg said. “It is a chronic illness and most chronic illnesses require medication.”

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