1. The Opioid Epidemic: Coordinating a Municipal Response
Kristen Michaels
Executive Director CONNECT
JoEllen Marsh Community Opioid Response Manager Allegheny County Health Department

2. Our effectiveness comes from engaged municipalities who are:
Mission
The Congress of Neighboring Communities (CONNECT) brings together the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding municipalities to identify common public policy challenges and advocate for collective change on behalf of Allegheny County’s urban core.
Our effectiveness comes from engaged municipalities who are:
tackling the community’s most pressing policy issues
building strong relationships with partners and stakeholders
advocating for public policy change

3. Membership

4. Organizational Structure
Executive Committee
Policy Working Group
Water/
Sewer
Transportation
Transit Oriented Development, Compete Streets
Emergency Medical Services
Health/ Opioid Epidemic Gun Violence
Blight and Vacancy
Infrastructure
Coordination
Officers

5. CONNECT & The Opioid Epidemic
Assessing the Issue & Building a Coalition

6. CONNECT & The Opioid Epidemic
Building Awareness
Allegheny League of Municipalities Spring 2018
CONNECT Health Working Group Meeting, June 2017
First Responder Training with Drug Enforcement Administration

7. CONNECT & The Opioid Epidemic
Expanding Capacity & Formalizing Partnership
CONNECT 2018 Annual Congress

8. Opioid Overdose Deaths in Allegheny County (2015-16)
Penn Hills township 29 McKees Rocks borough 16 Brentwood borough 12 West Mifflin borough 12 Wilkinsburg borough 12 Baldwin borough 11

9. Opioid Overdose Deaths in Allegheny County (2015-16)
Penn Hills township 29 McKees Rocks borough 16 Brentwood borough 12 West Mifflin borough 12 Wilkinsburg borough 12 Baldwin borough 11

10. Opioid Overdose Deaths in CONNECT Communities (2017)
Penn Hills (29)
McKees Rocks (16)
Brentwood (12)
West Mifflin (12)
Wilkinsburg (12)
Baldwin Borough (11)
Penn Hills township 29 McKees Rocks borough 16 Brentwood borough 12 West Mifflin borough 12 Wilkinsburg borough 12 Baldwin borough 11

11. Opioid Deaths in CONNECT Communities
Allegheny County total: 622
Pittsburgh: 212
CONNECT (excluding Pittsburgh): 215
Deaths Involving Fentanyl in 2017
Allegheny County average: 87%
Pittsburgh: 89%
CONNECT (excluding Pittsburgh): 93%
Excluding Pittsburgh, 53% of Allegheny County opioid deaths were in CONNECT communities

12. Social Determinants of Health Stigma Reduction
Health Equity
Social Determinants of Health
Stigma Reduction
PREVENTION
Schools
Community
Prescribing
TREATMENT ACCESS
RECOVERY SUPPORT
Treatment information
System navigation
Support friends and family
HARM REDUCTION
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Support First Responders
Naloxone access
Recognize overdose and respond
Sterile syringe access
Resources and information to support people in recovery and their loved ones

13. MUNICIPAL OPIOID SURVEY: TOP 4 REQUESTS FOR HELP
1. Collect and share information with residents about accessible, high-quality drug and alcohol treatment options.
2. Bring prevention education that works for young people through School Districts or other channels.
3. Share best practices from other communities in PA and beyond.
4. Support multi-municipal coalition building to form a cross-sector, sustainable response to the epidemic.
Health WG Meeting since summer 2016

14. Supporting Local Government Officials
Education about the Opioid Epidemic
Data about Local Scope of the Problem

15. Supporting Local Government Officials
Helping them Understand How to:
Respond to Residents
Connect Residents with Resources
Address Stigma within the Community
Take Action to Address the Problem

16. Municipal Government Response:
Prevention
Prevention Education in Schools, After-School Programs
Drug Take-Back Boxes
Project DUMP
Access to Mental Health Services
Community Education about:
Fentanyl
Pill presses

17. Municipal Government Response:
Treatment Access
PA Get Help Now Line – (HELP)
DHS System Navigator
AHCI MAT Locator
SAMHSA
Plain-Language Guide to Treatment
Post Overdose Response Team (PORT)
Resource Cards to Leave After Overdose

18. Municipal Government Response:
Community Impact
Community Meetings, Classes - Speakers Bureau
Syringe Clean-ups
Information for Newsletters, Social Media
Support for First Responders
Naloxone for Police, Fire & EMS
EMS Leave-Behind Programs
Police Department Angel Programs
Community Coalitions
Vacant and Abandoned Property

19. Municipal Government Response:
Harm Reduction
Naloxone
Police, Fire & EMS
Community Organizations Serving At-Risk Populations
Door-to-Door
Syringe Exchange – Support & Expansion
Fundraising
Syringe Disposal
HIV and Viral Hepatitis

20. Municipal Government Response:
Recovery Support
Support Groups
Community Events
Housing
Employment
Record Expungement
Healthcare Access
Driver’s License Suspensions (HB 163)

22. Thank You! Kristen Michaels kmaser@pitt.edu 412.624.7530 JoEllen Marsh