title
Approve a first contract amendment with Touro University for $903,400 for a total contract amount of $915,900 to support a regional approach to opioid remediation and abatement activities in coordination with Drug Safe Solano and Solano County Behavioral Health for the current period through June 30, 2026; and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the amendment and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate of $74,999
body
Published Notice Required? Yes _____ No __X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes _____ No __X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve a first contract amendment with Touro University for $903,400 for a total contract amount of $915,900 to support a regional approach to opioid remediation and abatement activities in coordination with Drug Safe Solano and Solano County Behavioral Health for the current period through June 30, 2026; and delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the amendment and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate of $74,999.
SUMMARY:
California joined multiple national lawsuits against manufacturers, distributors, and other entities responsible for aiding the opioid epidemic and has received awards from opioid judgements and anticipates receiving additional funds from future judgements. Opioid settlement allocations to Solano County must be expended on opioid remediation that includes high-impact abatement activities delineated by the State Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Health and Social Services (H&SS), Behavioral Health Division, is coordinating efforts with the H&SS, Public Health division’s prevention team and Drug Safe Solano, the county Opioid Coalition, to ensure abatement strategies align with evidence-based practices to expand and enhance substance use disorder (SUD) prevention, intervention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services.
The contract amendment with Touro University will expand services to increase efforts in combating the opioid crisis and will include a mobile harm reduction program and a youth prevention outreach program. In addition, Solano Behavioral Health collaborates with Drug Safe Solano which brings together a motivated multidisciplinary team to address opioid addiction issues in the community. Drug Safe Solano will increase staffing to provide countywide coordination, strategic planning, early intervention, and prevention activities. Solano Behavioral Health will continue to oversee all activities and to ensure shared goals, strategies, and alignment to reduce overdose deaths.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Opioid settlement funding received from the Department of Health Care Services and Substance Use Block Grant (SUBG) revenue will provide funding for the contract amendment. Appropriations are available in the FY2023/24 Working Budget. There is no impact on the County General Fund.
DISCUSSION:
There is a critical need to support and maintain opioid coalitions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 110,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2022; of these, an estimated 83,000 (75%) involved opioid drugs. According to the Solano County Sheriff / Coroner’s Office's updated data as of February 2024, there were 115 overdose deaths in 2023, as compared to 63 in 2022 in Solano County. Of the overdose deaths in 2023, 27 were due to stimulants like methamphetamine, 29 were due to a combination of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and 59 included fentanyl.
The Drug Safe Solano (DSS) coalition was created when a diverse cross-section of community partners came together to address the severe issue of opioid use in Solano County. Formerly known as the Solano Opioid Safety Coalition, DSS was established in the Fall of 2018. In August 2019, DSS transitioned to Touro University California (TUC). DSS is comprised of over 40 organizations from a cross-section of local hospitals, community health centers, law enforcement, county agencies, community-based organizations, first responders, and concerned residents who come together to collaborate, prevent, and combat the opioid crisis.
The DSS's mission is to (1) decrease the stigma of addiction, serve as a resource for patients and professionals, and increase public education about the opioid crisis and the use of Naloxone, (2) save lives by preventing opioid overdoses and deaths by reducing the number of opioid prescriptions and safe disposal of prescription opioids, and (3) expand access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and other forms of treatment, both in inpatient and outpatient settings.
On June 1, 2022, Solano Behavioral Health entered a contract with Touro University for $12,500 to collaborate and create strategies to combat the opioid crisis through the DSS coalition meetings for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024. The recommended contract amendment represents an increase of $903,400 and extends the contract by two years, to June 30, 2026. The additional funding will allow DSS to expand its staffing to assist with opioid remediation coordination efforts, and the addition of harm reduction and youth prevention programs. Operations and areas of focus include strategic planning, identifying substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) gaps and priorities for Solano County; increasing Narcan distribution and training; and supervision of substance use navigators who are providing access to MAT and recovery services in Solano County.
A Mobile Harm Reduction Program (syringe exchange and OUD support team) will also be developed to facilitate community access to these services. In addition, a Youth Outreach Program will be implemented focused on harm reduction, in coordination with community partners, support events and activities, train student volunteers to use and administer Narcan and increase community education on SUD/OUD harm reduction. This project aligns with the Department of Health Care Service’s requirements for high impact abatement, which includes substance use disorder treatment, addressing needs of communities of color and vulnerable populations, preventing drug addiction in vulnerable youth, and the purchase of Narcan/Naloxone.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to approve the contract amendment with Touro University. This is not recommended as the opioid settlement funds are intended to provide remediation of the opioid crisis, and will be used toward prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
H&SS, Behavioral Health Division and Public Health Division support the coordination of opioid remediation efforts.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION