The Otsego County Opiate Task Force

Prevention Agenda PriorityPromote Mental Health and Prevent

Substance Abuse

The Task Force• Mission – Reduce the harm associated with

heroin and non-medical opiate use• Location: Otsego County• Project is associated with

– Goal 3.2 - Strengthen infrastructure for MEB health promotion and MEB disorder prevention.

– Goal 2.1 - Prevent underage drinking, non-medical use of prescription pain relievers drugs by youth and excessive alcohol consumption by adults.

• Project began in June of 2014

The Otsego County Opiate Task Force

“A small group of committed community members standing in the face of an unprecedented crisis.”

The partner organizations:Oneonta PDCatholic CharitiesCrossroads InnFriends of Recovery DOBassett HealthcareOtsego County ProbationLEAF Council on Alcoholism and AddictionsOtsego County Community ServicesOtsego County Health DepartmentJail Ministries of Otsego CountyCentral New York Prevention Resource CenterSUNY Oneonta (Faculty and Student Services)Hartwick CollegeMembers of the Recovering CommunityPrivate TherapistOtsego County Drug Treatment CourtFamily MembersMembers of the community at large

Core Team:

Julie Dostal, ChairExecutive DirectorLEAF Council on Alcoholism and Addictions

Susan MattDirectorOtsego County Community Services

Heidi BondDirectorOtsego County Health Deparment

• The Problem: Significant increase in opiate related harms to Otsego County Residents

• Who is affected: The highest impacts are being seen in the 18 to 34 year old age group.

Aim Statement: From 1/01/15 to 12/31/15 reduce harms associated with opiate use in Otsego County so that:

– Arrest rates for heroin and opiate misuse are reduced by 20%– Opiate using peer influencers in the teen and young adult

population are identified more frequently by Schools, DSS and Healthcare providers

– Community members have greater awareness of opiate use and risk factors associate with use through use of the “Hunger Heart Film Tour.”

Although this is a countywide initiative, the main focus is behavior change and risk factor reduction in the 18 to 34 year old age group.

Target Population

Young adults in Otsego County between the ages of 18 and 34

Improvement Indicators

Outcome Measures:• The number of opiate related arrests will decrease by

20%• 75% of community members who attend “The Hungry

Heart Tour” will report an increase knowledge of opiate related harms.

Process Measures• The Opiate Task Force will meet monthly• 300 community members will attend a “Hungry Heart”

screening and community discussion

Prevention Agenda Focus AreasFocus Area 1: Mental Health Promotion

Focus Area 2: Prevent Substance Abuse and other MEBs

Focus Area 3: Strengthen Collaboration and Infrastructure

Use print and social media to provide health promotion materials related to opiate use and addiction

Join with Schoharie County to provide “The Hungry Heart” Movie Tour (about heroin and opiate addiction)

Meet monthly with Otsego County Opiate Task Force and Collaborate with the Schoharie County Opiate Task Force