A health crisis spurs innovation in communities
The saying “necessity is the mother of invention” couldn’t be more true than in the case of the ongoing opioid epidemic in the US. Despite some of the early promising headlines around reduced prescription opioid deaths, deaths from Fentanyl continue to surge and more drug types (meth/ice, cocaine, cannabis) are being contaminated with the deadly synthetic formula - most often illegally produced in China or Mexico.
But some cities, counties and states are taking a full-on, no holds barred approach to helping people who want to get out of the cycle and repair their lives.
In Providence, Rhode Island, each of the 12 fire stations are now “Safe Stations” where anyone who wants help getting into treatment can literally just show up and ask for it. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and people can speak with trained staff on duty and immediately get connected to treatment support and services. The program is free and provides a welcoming environment for people who are ready for help.
In Washington State, Snohomish County has been on the forefront of getting creative, resourceful and scrappy in their efforts to curb overdose deaths, crime and devastation to the community related to opioid addiction. The homeless population is one that we all see as we drive by the encampments of ragged, wet tents surrounded by piles of garbage, battered furniture and tarps. This population has been almost impossible to reach with resources until earlier this year when the county opened a diversion center at the local county jail. The center is open 24/7 and is set up to help people who are living on the streets (and often suffering from mental illness) get into treatment before they end up in jail. The 44-bed diversion center will be an immediate place where people who are ready can get off the streets, seek medical attention and start to get sober. From there, they'll walk right next door to a new resource center to get connected to longer-term treatment, housing and job opportunities. These types of programs and resources are bridging the massive gap between someone remaining on the streets in a cycle of addiction and crime and finding a way to escape and rebuild their life.
In a previous post I highlighted a program being piloted by St. Vincent Charity Medical Center's Rosary Hall in Cleveland where they offered people Uber rides to and from outpatient treatment. The pilot was a success and the hospital is now offering both Uber and Lyft rides to their outpatient treatment clients. So far this year the attendance rate for patients coming to counseling with the help of the ride service is 90 percent, versus the attendance rate for the counseling sessions before the program which was 76 percent.
This tactic may not sound revolutionary (and may even sound excessive) but for someone who is trying to rebuild their life, transportation to and from treatment - often 20+ trips per week - can be a deal breaker. Finances are usually limited and the bus ride from home to the center can be filled with temptation, dealers, ex-friends and emotional triggers. There’s also a certain amount of dignity that can be restored by minimizing the stigma associated to going to treatment. Being picked up and dropped off in a clean, warm car with a non-judgmental driver can make a huge difference in someone’s decision to keep going one more day.
The crisis rages on but there is progress being made with programs that are truly helping. It’s easy to get discouraged and overwhelmed at the data but focusing on these success stories can help and for people who are ready to get help, help is becoming more available.