SJC Exchange Library

This report begins by providing context on the scope and impact of opioid misuse in the region and then lays out the basis of the city’s approach to addressing the epidemic. From there, the report outlines best practices for deploying local resources in response to an addiction crisis, organized around the lessons from Dayton’s experiences:

• Rapid and targeted data collection and use. In Dayton, detailed overdose data are collected and disseminated daily, weekly, and monthly to both ensure that those who overdose receive services quickly and to track emerging long-term trends. Overdose data broken down by jurisdiction and neighborhood also allow for tailored, targeted responses.
• Collaboration between agencies and organizations. In 2016, Montgomery County launched the Community Overdose Action Team (COAT), a partnership that broke down silos and fostered productive relationships between agencies. Agencies must be willing to step out of their traditional roles to identify assets and gaps, assign appropriate roles, and chart a collaborative path forward.
• A law enforcement strategy focused on prevention and support—not criminalization. In Dayton, law enforcement officers embraced an approach focused on supporting residents with substance use disorders. Collaboration across law enforcement agencies can also help reduce the supply of opiates, while taking legal action against pharmaceutical companies can help combat the stigma of addiction by publicly establishing the link between prescriptions opioids and substance misuse.
• Building a community of recovery and support. Creating a support system for people impacted by substance misuse reduces the stigma of addiction and helps individuals in active addiction enter and sustain recovery. People who are in recovery can provide valuable support, hope, and advocacy for individuals in active addiction.
• Access to treatment. Reducing the barriers to accessing treatment can help individuals take the first step toward recovery. Through proactive outreach, service providers can build long-term relationships with individuals in active addiction, provide information on available resources, and help connect them with treatment once they are ready to enter recovery.
• Promoting safer substance use. Expanding access to Narcan and sterile syringes can reduce the likelihood of overdose fatalities and the spread of disease, especially for those who are not yet ready to enter treatment.