FY 20 COSSAP Program

The Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) was developed as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) legislation. COSSAP’s purpose is to provide financial and technical assistance to states, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments to develop, implement, or expand comprehensive efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs of abuse.

The objective of Category 1 is to encourage and support the development of comprehensive, locally driven responses to opioids, stimulants, and other substances 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 nonviolent drug offenders; promote education and prevention activities; and address the needs of children impacted by substance abuse.

The District of Columbia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (DC-OCME) is applying for a Category 1a rural area grant in the amount of $1,200,000. DC-OCME Toxicology Opioid and Illicit Drug Surveillance (TOIDS) will reduce the impact of opioids, stimulants, and other substances on individuals and communities, including a reduction in the number of overdose fatalities, as well as mitigate the impacts on crime victims by supporting comprehensive, collaborative initiatives like conducting forensic toxicology laboratory testing of illicit drug misuse and novel testing for opioids. In addition, it will be analyzing comprehensive, real-time, regional information collection, analysis, and dissemination; and streamlining the forensic toxicology lab testing methodology through Lean Sigma Six (LSS) training of staff and LSS reform of the lab. Products include a sustainable LSS lab and staff, a comprehensive reference of new opioids, and free online resources on DC-OCME’s web page. DC-OCME will disseminate best practices with community partner and advocates. This project serves the District of Columbia with a population of 702,455. The project includes partnerships between the Network for Victim Recovery of D.C., D.C. Forensic Nurse Examiners, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, D.C. Department of Transportation, D.C. Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants, and D.C. Department of Health.
CA/NCF