Safe, for now: Future of Safe Station not clear in wake of Hub and Spoke

The emergency room at Swedish Hospital in Edmonds, Washington is working to implement more focused care for those suffering from opioid addiction, an offering not typically present at most hospitals. Using a hands-on approach that integrates "substance use disorder treatment and interventions and assessment," through the use of doctors, counselors, and social workers, this program increases the likelihood of follow through with recovery.

To reduce deaths caused by overdosing, Chico police have begun carrying naloxone in their squad cars to administer on site, rather than waiting for paramedics to arrive. Although not all police departments have participated in this approach, there is a growing drive to make it the standard.

As jails in Ohio struggle with the skyrocketing numbers of people addicted to opioids, they are increasingly becoming the state's primary detox centers. This article explores how several counties are addressing the issue by connecting inmates to jobs, training and housing to cut down on overdose deaths and reduce recidivism. Medicaid has also made it easier to get inmates health insurance coverage, which gives them access to treatment and medications upon release.

Students at Arlington Public Schools are being trained to carry and administer Narcan to help reduce the rising number of opioid overdose deaths, specifically among young people. Programs like this and access to treatment like Suboxone help make it easier for youth to find recovery and prevent drug overdoses.

The Frederick Police Department’s Crisis Response Team combines law enforcement with paramedics and mental health professionals to respond to calls. The team can showcase each person’s expertise as needed, providing more individualized care when responding to mental health emergency calls.

In Glasglow, a former outreach workers has launched a mobile harm reduction facility to help those who are living with addiction have a safe space to use drugs. Although the idea is controversial and "political," users of the van say that if it weren't for it, they would be risking overdoses or illnesses from using dirty needles.

Although COVID-19 has taken a toll on the healthcare industry, some providers and clinics have figured out a way to eliminate barriers during this time for those seeking treatment. According to the director of the Behavioral Health Institute at Harborview Medical Center in Washington, the healthcare industry has seen "at least five years worth of progress happen in four months" due to the implementation of telemedicine. While this isn't a longterm replacement for in-person visits, many doctors are reporting a rise in patient appointments via this system.

The coronavirus pandemic has largely led to the expansion and adoption of telemedicine, which has helped those seeking treatment for addictions more easily access care. Although advocates of medication-assisted treatment have been working to eliminate barriers to virtual care for years, the pandemic has accelerated these efforts and the outcome has been successful. According to the associate executive director of Prevention Point Philadelphia, “It’s a reduction of the hassle, wait times, anxiety and fear of withdrawal in a waiting room."

A town in West Virginia was lacking resources for mental health care, so high school juniors were tapped to fill the need. Learning skills such as how to use naloxone to in an overdose situation to asking open-ended questions to intervene in a crisis, the students walked away from a “life & recovery coach academy” equipped with usable skills, college credits, and a certificate, while also reentering their community as more engaged citizens.

The Tacoma Needle Exchange in Washington doesn't only provide a place for a clean needle exchange but also provides Narcan and fentanyl test kits to those who visit the white van for new syringes. Although the approach is still controversial at the federal funding level, studies have proven that this practice decreases the spread of infectious diseases.