Pierce County Human Services (PCHS) has received a sizable grant to provide substance abuse treatment on the streets in an effort to counteract the catastrophic effects of opioid abuse. PCHS has announced that they would be implementing a mobile opioid treatment program throughout the region after receiving a $1.6 million funding from the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program (COSSUP) of the U.S. Department of Justice. Particularly in places where traditional health services are difficult to get, this program seeks to offer residents suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD) easily accessible medical and counseling assistance.
Pierce County has suffered greatly as a result of the widespread usage of opioids; since 2020, overdoses have risen to the top of the death toll. The region is in desperate need of improved treatment alternatives, as seen by the reported 220% increase in opioid-related mortality and the 174% increase in total drug overdose deaths since 2016. Overdose emergency response has also increased recently, prompting community leaders to look for creative ways to reduce those numbers, such as this mobile initiative.
For people with OUD, the mobile outreach and treatment vehicle is expected to serve as a one-stop shop, providing a range of services from telehealth to medication-assisted treatment (MAT). The suburban and rural areas of Pierce County, where residents have difficulty accessing the current Tacoma-centric treatment facilities, will be the focus of this rolling clinic. According to PCHS, the objective is to increase treatment plan adherence in order to lower the frequency of overdoses and associated fatalities in these underprivileged communities.
In a statement, Heather Moss, director of Pierce County Human Services, said, “The effects of opioids on our community have been devastating,” highlighting the program’s importance. By increasing access to life-saving therapies, the mobile unit’s introduction is anticipated to reduce overdose rates while also addressing the larger fentanyl problem. Rural and community-based services have been identified as necessary by Pierce County’s Behavioral Health Improvement Plan, and the launch of the mobile outreach program is a major step in addressing these pressing needs.
For additional information regarding PCHS’s services and local initiatives to combat the opioid crisis, community members are urged to visit Pierce County Behavioral Health.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
Leave a Reply