Regrounding Our Response

The Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program (COAP) was developed as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) legislation. COAP's purpose is to provide financial and technical assistance to states, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments to plan, develop, and implement comprehensive efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by the opioid epidemic. COAP aims to reduce opioid abuse and the number of overdose fatalities, as well as to mitigate the impacts on crime victims by supporting comprehensive, collaborative initiatives. The objective of Category 2 is to support states in their efforts to implement, enhance, or evaluate effective opioid-related efforts within the criminal justice system. Maryland’s Regrounding Our Response: A Coordinated Public Safety and Public Health Approach to the Opioid Epidemic initiative will establish new or support existing Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) sites , as well as detention-based interventions in partnership with the Office of Public Defender.  In addition, funds support community-based programs, court-based programs, and programming in jails and prisons to improve access to care. The objectives include: 1) reduce recidivism; 2) reduce calls for service for drug-related activity in the target areas; 3) reduce criminal justice costs; 4) improve police understanding of and response to issues related to addiction and mental health disorders; and5) increase access to MOUD/MAT. The Maryland Statistical Analysis Center will support research, performance management, and evaluation of all selected sites.