H79TI087740

North Dakota State Opioid Response Grant - The purpose of North Dakota's State Opioid Response (SOR) grant is to address the opioid overdose crisis by increasing access to FDA-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (MOUD), and for supporting the continuum of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services for opioid use disorder (OUD) and other concurrent substance use disorders.

The North Dakota Department of Health & Human Services’ Behavioral Health Division (BHD) plans to approach this by enhancing services and capacity statewide and community-specific, while also focusing on several priority areas.

Statewide, the number of drug overdose deaths increased from 76 in 2019 to 136 in 2022, decreasing to 114 in 2023 (ND Health Statistics and Performance).

In 2023, 67% of the overdose deaths involved an opiate and more specifically, 62% of the overdose deaths involved fentanyl.

The percentage of individuals receiving treatment through the public behavioral health system or reimbursed through the state’s substance use disorder (SUD) voucher program who report use of opioids range from 3% to 28% (ND TEDS [2023], ND SUD Voucher Active Clients [2023]).

There are four licensed opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in the state and the combined census increased from 802 in May 2022 to 1,100 in May 2023 (ND Central Registry).

To accomplish the first goal to prevent substance (mis)use with a specific focus on opioids and stimulants, the following, summarized objectives were identified:

(1) Increase the reach of messaging for "Parents Lead" and “Opioids: Take Care, Be Aware” to nearly 588,500 North Dakotans;

(2) Deepen the impact of the One Program by screening at least 3,000 individuals at participating pharmacies; and

(3) Provide education on medication safety to at least 15,000 school-aged and transitional-aged youth.

To accomplish the second goal to reduce harm related to opioids and stimulants, the following, summarized objectives were identified:

(1) Establish at least one new syringe service program; and

(2) Disseminate at least 23,350 naloxone kits to individuals most likely to witness an overdose and in locations where they are most likely to occur.

To accomplish the third goal to improve access to evidence-based treatment, the following, summarized objectives were identified:

(1) Integrate MOUD in at least 3 additional healthcare settings; and

(2) Integrate MOUD in at least 2 county correctional settings.

To accomplish the final goal to increase access to recovery support services, the following, summarized objective was identified:

(1) Integrate peer support specialists in at least 3 new settings/service.

The BHD will partner with the state’s Health Equity Office (HEO) to address the needs of diverse populations throughout all efforts in order to accomplish all SOR program goals and objectives.

The BHD will review the state’s SOR proposed strategies with the HEO to ensure strategies and activities will promote behavioral health equity.

The BHD has a long-standing history of partnering with North Dakota tribes on behavioral health initiatives.

The BHD has specifically offered funding and resources to the four tribal nations in the state with previous iterations of the SOR grant and will continue to do so with the upcoming SOR award.

Tribal nations in the state will be able to apply for funds to implement strategies aligning to the statewide SOR plan and also taking into consideration local needs and cultural differences.

North Dakota Department Of Human Services

ADDRESSING THE OPIOID ABUSE CRISIS WITHIN SUCH STATES, USED FOR CARRYING OUT ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPLEMENT ACTIVITIES PERTAINING TO OPIOIDS UNDERTAKEN BY THE STATE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT BLOCK GRANT UNDER SUBPART II OF PART B OF TITLE XIX OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT (42 U.S.C. 300X21 ET SEQ.), AND TRIBES AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS THE OPIOID CRISIS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

93.243 - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance

Division of Grants Management [HHS - SAMHSA]

North Dakota United States

State-Wide

State Opioid Response Grants (TI-24-008)