Rowan County recently received more than $100,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide EMS personnel with substance abuse and mental health training, as well as purchase life-saving supplies for people suffering from substance abuse disorders.

The funding, totaling $106,447 in grants, along with a $10,645 match, comes from the USDHHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Rural Emergency Services Training Program, which aims to recruit and train staff EMS in rural areas with a particular focus on addressing substance use. disorders and co-occurring substance use and mental disorders.

The grant was awarded to Harm Reduction, Outreach, Prevention, Education, or HOPE, a team that is a partnership between Rowan County Public Health and Rowan County Emergency Services and provides post-recovery response and support services to those who use opioids. and those at increased risk of opioid overdose.

“Investing in specialized substance use and mental health training for our first responders will significantly improve outcomes and save lives. I was proud to advocate on behalf of Rowan County to receive this funding and ensure that those in need receive timely and quality care,” said U.S. Senator Thom Tillis, who co-founded Senate Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, in a statement from the county.

The primary objective of the grant is to train EMS personnel to better support individuals experiencing a substance use or mental health crisis. Staff will be trained to distribute essential resources, connect individuals with peer support services and refer them to appropriate treatment pathways.

“Through specialized training, this grant will help our frontline EMS personnel manage mental health and substance use emergencies, ultimately leading to a reduction in negative outcomes associated with such events,” said County Commissioner Judy Klusman , which serves as the board of directors. the connection of the commissioners with the county health council, in the communique.

Additional goals of the grant include procuring buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opioid use disorder, naloxone, and basic ventilation masks to administer at critical moments, with the goal of increasing access to treatment and improving health outcomes for those experiencing substance use disorders. .

“Rowan County ranks fourth highest in North Carolina for positive fentanyl overdose rates, and the overdose death rate here is well above the state average. We must do better,” Public Health Director Alyssa Harris said in the release.