Lackawanna County Overdose Fatality Review Team

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. The Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) has been incorporated into the FY 2019 COAP solicitation. The purpose of the Harold Rogers PDMP is to improve collaboration and strategic decision making among regulatory and law enforcement agencies and public health entities to address prescription drug and opioid abuse, save lives, and reduce crime.

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 program also supports the implementation, enhancement, and proactive use of PDMPs to support clinical decision making and prevent the abuse and diversion of controlled substances. Grantees are prohibited from using federal funds to support activities that violate the Controlled Substances Act.

The objective of Category 1 is to encourage and support the development of comprehensive, locally driven responses to the opioid epidemic that expand access to supervision, treatment, and recovery support services across the criminal justice system; support law enforcement and other first responder diversion programs for non-violent drug offenders; promote education and prevention activities; and address the needs of children impacted by the opioid epidemic. All projects are expected to involve multiple agencies and partners.

The Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office will establish a local, multiagency overdose fatality review team; conduct an extensive needs assessment; develop an action plan to guide policies, programs, and laws to prevent overdose deaths; establish a database within Lackawanna County that promotes data sharing and collaboration among local stakeholders to identify at-risk populations; and allow for more targeted programs to reduce overdose fatalities. A large-scale evaluation will be conducted of all the program goals and deliverables to promote sustainability and replication to other areas of need. The University of Pittsburgh, Program Evaluation and Research Unit will serve as the research partner for the proposed project.

CA/NCF