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Back to all News ReleasesOctober 03, 2024 (Cleveland, OH)The Center Convenes Experts to Discuss Updates and Solutions to the Opioid Crisis
Nearly 100 community leaders, healthcare professionals and industry experts with experience in combatting the opioid crisis came together on Sept. 20 at The Center for Health Affairs to learn from one another and share strategies for preventing opioid-related deaths.
Designed to address the opioid crisis and the challenges faced by local communities, the roundtable event offered attendees the opportunity to learn through presentations and discussions on efforts to combat the crisis, including pharmacologic treatment for opioid use disorder, as well as vital updates to programs and action taking place. Attendees of the event, titled “Using Collaboration to Address the Opioid Crisis in Northeast Ohio,” represented a diverse range of backgrounds, contributing their unique perspectives to the discussion while uniting around a shared goal.
The opioid crisis stands as one of the most significant public health challenges of our era, deeply impacting countless individuals and families. In Cuyahoga County alone, there were more than 600 drug-related deaths in 2023. As communities confront the deep challenges posed by addiction and overdose, it’s evident that a collaborative approach is crucial for effectively addressing this epidemic.
“Addressing the opioid crisis goes beyond simply treating its symptoms,” said Jodi Mitchell, senior director of government relations & policy for The Center for Health Affairs. “It requires a holistic approach focused on prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery. By raising awareness, engaging community members, and advocating for effective policies, we can unite to end this crisis and pave the way for a healthier, more resilient future.”
The event’s networking opportunities not only allowed attendees to interact and build connections with local initiatives and resources, but also sparked conversations detailing successes, lessons learned, and opportunities to tackle the opioid crisis in various communities.
The programming also served as a kick-off for year two of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Overdose Data to Action: Limiting Overdose through Collaborative Actions in Localities (OD2A LOCAL) grant program. Through this grant, the CDC funds 40 city, county, and territorial health departments to create a strong foundation of cooperation and partnership across public health, behavioral health, health systems, community organizations, and public safety.
The intent of the grant is to build cohesive programs that connect to people throughout communities and close gaps in access to services. The Center is a designated subgrantee to the OD2A LOCAL grant in Cuyahoga County.
“Through the sharing of knowledge, experiences and solutions, communities can work toward reducing opioid misuse and supporting those affected by addiction. It’s a complex issue that requires ongoing collaboration and commitment,” said The Center for Health Affairs and CHAMPS President & CEO Brian Lane. “This roundtable event, combined with our designation as subgrantee to the OD2A LOCAL grant, truly puts us at the epicenter of this community in the fight to address this crisis head on.”
The OD2A LOCAL grant will allow The Center to continue convening the Northeast Ohio Opioid Consortium. The hospital-driven, physician-led Consortium works collaboratively to address the region’s opioid epidemic by sharing and implementing evidence-based practices, promoting policy changes, and increasing prevention efforts.
The roundtable event began with opening remarks provided by Rebecca C. Lutzko, United States Attorney Northern District of Ohio, and included a keynote panel discussion on innovative response models for treatment and recovery. The day closed with an interative session that allowed attendees to rotate through discussions on topics such as harm reduction, community referrals and disparities.
The Center also took the opportunity to recognize the impact and achievements of its 2023 documentary, Igniting Compassion, and celebrate the attendees who generously participated in the film.
The Center extends thanks to Jenny Camper, who facilitated the day, as well as to all the speakers, moderators, and panelists who generously shared their time, expertise, and solutions related to the opioid crisis and participated in the following sessions:
- U.S. Attorney Heroin & Opiod Action Plan Update.
- OD2A Year 2 Kickoff and Project Overview.
- Success Story for Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office.
- Updates to OneOhio’s Recovery Foundation.
Gratitude also goes to the sponsors that made this event possible and enabled a space for productive discussions centered around the opioid crisis:
- Indivior
- ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County
- Braeburn
- Case Western Reserve University’s Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences Center for Evidence-Based Practices
- Vertex
- CHAMPS Group Purchasing
The success of the day, which brought together the largest roundtable audience in The Center's history, highlights the dedication and passion of those across our region who are striving to address the opioid crisis. Materials from the convening, including a full list of speakers, a photo album of the day, and a recording of the session, “Opioid Use Disorder: A Chronic, Treatable Brain Disease,” which discussed innovative treatment options, are available online.
Learn more about The Center for Health Affairs and the Opioid Consortium by visiting neohospitals.org.