Care Resource and Community Leaders Discuss Awareness & Treatment
Care Resource hosted another impactful “Community Connections” event to bring further attention to opioid use disorder in Broward County and build awareness around Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). “Community Connections,” is a series that allows like-minded individuals, corporate, non-profit, and government partners to engage in dialogue about local issues and collaborative solutions.
Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner, Steve Glassman, informed guests of the public health crisis that is currently affecting the community. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2016 and 2017, an estimated 2.1 million Americans experienced an opioid use disorder. In that time, there were more than 47,000 deaths nationwide due to opioid overdose.
Glassman shared the actions that various leaders are taking on a local level to confront the epidemic. Glassman further cited the work of the 21-member task force, the Opioid Abuse Working Group, led by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. The task force was created by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2019 by executive order. The task force engages education, prevention, and treatment in order to heal the communities from the effects of opioid use.
Additionally, the CDC announced a three-year Overdose Data to Action grant, which invests $58.8 million into prevention and treatment initiatives led by the Florida Department of Health in partnership with the Florida Department of Children and Families, and local stakeholders. The grant focuses on county health departments in Broward, Duval, and Palm Beach.
Furthermore, emergency responders in the community are trained with Narcan Nasal Spray, used to treat opioid overdose. According to the United Way of Broward County Commission on Substance Abuse’s surveillance team, in 2017, there were 1,642 opioid overdoses treated in Broward County emergency rooms. However, due to Narcan, 99% of the individuals who overdosed and were brought to a hospital, survived.
Care Resource utilizes MAT as a comprehensive approach to address the holistic health of Broward residents living with opioid use disorder. The use of FDA-approved medication relieves withdrawal and cravings so that clients can focus on their recovery. The combination of consistent and monitored medication use with behavioral health counseling provides a “whole-patient” approach to substance use disorder, sustaining their recovery.
Director of Behavioral Health Services at Care Resource, Thomas Smith, Ph.D., LMHC, LMFT, MCAP further spoke on MAT’s strategy to uncover the underlying issues that place individuals at higher risk of substance use disorder. The health center provides additional services such as case management and employment services to supplement an individual’s path to full recovery. In 2019, the center treated more than 300 patients, and 70% still remain in care. These individuals are simultaneously given HIV and Hepatitis testing and treatment in order to address comorbidities that occur with substance use disorders. These efforts address the issues that surround opioid use disorder, acting as a comprehensive approach to addressing an individual’s overall wellness.
Community partners remain motivated to address this local crisis with federal and state support. Effective response in addressing opioid use in Broward County calls for collaboration and the collective strength of community partners, task forces, in addition to prevention services and educational opportunities.
About Care Resource:
Care Resource is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization and a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with four locations in Midtown Miami, Little Havana, Miami Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. The health center provides comprehensive health and support services to address the full health care needs of South Florida’s pediatric, adolescent, and adult populations.
For Media Inquiries or additional article information, please contact Jonathan Welsh, Associate Director of Development and Communications at jwelsh@careresource.org
