MCPHD IHART

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Program is the first major federal substance use disorder treatment and recovery legislation in 40 years and the most comprehensive effort to address the opioid epidemic. CARA establishes a comprehensive, coordinated, and balanced strategy through enhanced grant programs that expand prevention and education efforts while also promoting treatment and recovery. The Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based program was developed as part of the CARA legislation signed into law on July 22, 2016.

The Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program aims to reduce opioid abuse and the number of overdose fatalities, as well as to mitigate the impacts on crime victims. The program also supports the implementation, enhancement, and proactive use of prescription drug monitoring programs to support clinical decision making and prevent the abuse and diversion of controlled substances.

The System-level Diversion Projects category projects must demonstrate a commitment to establish effective diversion programs for offenders who abuse illicit or prescription opioids. Projects may support pretrial diversion, court-based diversion programs (other than drug courts or Veterans treatment courts), community-based supervision, corrections programs, and/or reentry programs.

The Marion County Public Health Department will expand the Indianapolis Harm Reduction Team (IHART) Program to employ two full-time peer support specialists who will facilitate access to treatment, health care resources, and community-based services. IHART will hire a full-time project coordinator to oversee the operation and serve as a liaison with the criminal justice and public health systems, mental health and substance abuse treatment providers, and other government and community-based entities. Indiana University will serve as the research partner for the proposed project.

CA/NCF