Lamar County LEAD 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 Lamar County LEAD Program will develop a trauma-informed, comprehensive, community-based response to divert individuals experiencing opioid or stimulant misuse/abuse from the criminal justice system to treatment. The objectives are to (1) divert 100 individuals with SUD from the criminal justice system to treatment and case management service providers, and (2) provide harm-reduction case management services to 150 individuals with SUD. A total of 250 individuals will be served over the project period. This project serves Lamar County, Mississippi, which has a population of 63,300. The project includes partnerships between Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources’ Grant and Research Department.

CA/NCF