Addressing the Opioid Crisis

Access to Treatment Committee

Priority: Increase appropriate use of suboxone prescribing among providers

Tactics:

• Identify trained and waiver providers who are not prescribing
• Identify barriers to prescribing suboxone
• Work with health systems to encourage primary care providers to appropriately prescribe
• Develop a map to highlight geographic gaps in prescribing and access to treatment

Right Services, Right Time Committee:

Priority: Develop a clear intake tool for first responders and law enforcement to assess readiness for opioid use disorder treatment and access areas in the community

Tactics:

• Increase awareness of the District Court’s Resource Center
• Support Partners efforts to provide diversion programs

Prevention and Education Committee:

Priority: Address the opioid epidemic upstream with children and youth and identify drivers for addiction.

Tactics:

• Assessed prevention curriculum in all 15 school districts
• Develop a screening and referral strategy
• Research youth-focused media campaigns

We’re engaged with the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute at the University of Washington and the network of Accountable Communities of Health across the state to collaborate on addressing the opioid crisis. The group is keen to leverage and share data, as well as successful methods, in order to further our shared goals.

Host: Chelsea Amato: Opioid Task Force Coordinator Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department

As part of our ongoing work to curb opioid use in Pierce County, Elevate Health co-sponsored this event in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day. Events held worldwide on this day:

• remember those who have been lost to fatal drug poisoning
• celebrate those who have been rescued from or assisted in rescuing someone from an overdose,
• help reduce the stigma of overdose and drug use.

Guests:

• Madison LeFever, singer/song writer
• Charnay Ducrest, Treatment Service Coordinator
• Sean Hemmerle, Overdoes Education & Naloxone Distribution Consultant WA State DOH
• Kayla Luke, Treatment Service Counselor Tacoma Pierce County Health Department
• Dr. Paul Lakosky: Executive Director Dave Purchase Project TNE

At Elevate Health’s inception, we integrated opioid initiatives throughout our work and in compliance with the Washington State Health Care Authority. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department was one of our best resources for identifying data gaps in analysis and supporting our efforts in service to the region.

Under our initial plan, we established an Opioid Workgroup and began operating intervention and prevention services through our Care Continuum Network. The Opioid Workgroup engaged partners in opioid-related work or who possessed expertise throughout the county. Originally the Opioid Workgroup collaborated in conjunction with the Opioid Taskforce convened by Pierce County, and to ensure alignment and cooperation, Councilmember Derek Young sat on both the workgroup and the taskforce.

In 2019, we agreed to streamline our efforts, maximize resources, and avoid duplication by folding the Opioid Workgroup into the Opioid Taskforce. Today Elevate Health is an active participant and sponsor of the taskforce. Learn more about the taskforce’s history.