The Rowan County Health Department takes a collaborative approach with their community`s Post Overdose Response Team (PORT) project. In Rowan County, unintentional overdose deaths have more than tripled from 2001 to 2016. The Post-Overdose Response Team (PORT) gives emergency medical care and ongoing support to help opioid overdose survivors in their journey to becoming drug-free.
The Rowan County Health Department in collaboration with Rowan County Emergency Medical Services and the Center for Prevention Services have partnered to establish a Post Overdose Repose Ream (PORT) that will intervene directly in affected communities to provide outreach and support. The team will assist both active users, and those further along in the recovery process, by providing peer counseling, group therapy and other support.
The PORT comprises a Certified Peer Support Specialist, a Harm Reduction Advocate, and Community Paramedic who reach out and will try to connect identified individuals to the available services, treatment and resources in the county with 48-72 hours after contact.
PORT clients will be invited to participate in the support group meetings and training offered through the Health Department with the intention to prevent and minimize repeat overdoses. PORT members will make attempts to engage the family members and/or significant others of the overdose survivors to achieve greater impact.
For more information contact: Vera Avery, vera.avery@rowancountync.gov
