Model and Strategy
HEPPAC aims to reduce the use of opioids and overdose deaths among unhoused residents of Alameda County. Alameda County has increased medication assisted treatment programs that remain restricted to clinical based settings and other traditional drug treatment environments; unrealistic points of access for people who are unstably housed or unhoused with limited access to basic needs services. Provider capacity is limited to serving, “functioning” active users who usually have resources and limited barriers.
Alameda County’s emergency department is their primary points of access for medical services and a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) access point. Unhoused people who use drugs need additional points of entry.A low-threshold, community-based environment where active users consistently utilize. This will increase the number of admissions for MAT, increase the number of unhoused residents receiving integrated care and treatment services and decrease the use of opioids in a non-prescribed manner. The most significant community level impact our project aims to achieve is the reduction in opioid overdose among syringe services program participants.
Impact
HEPPAC's Oakland Mobile MAT Connect will impact unhoused opioid users in Alameda County, primarily in the city of Oakland. This challenging to reach population will reduce their illicit opioid use, reduce their overdose risk and reduce their risk for overdose death. This significant individual level impact will reduce drug-related harm.
Increased MAT access points in Alameda County will reduce barriers, provide services in a capacity that best suits unhoused residents who are active opioid users and will serve as a demonstration project to develop best practices for other harm reduction-based programs to replicate. This community level impact will increase MAT utilization in the Alameda County community.
Leadership
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Loris A. Mattox
Executive Director
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Denise Lopez
Harm Reduction Services Manager