Patenaude said she was thoroughly impressed with the number of community leaders and organizations in the region that have teamed up to tackle the problem.
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“They are getting the job done but are committed for the long haul,” she said, “and I have never seen this type of collaboration done before.”
She also said, “But I also heard, this is not going away. They are in this for the long run.”
Montgomery County has the highest unintentional drug overdose death rate in the state of Ohio.
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But since forming the Community Overdose Action Team in late 2016, local officials say they have made progress to improve and expand treatment, prevention and intervention.
“Montgomery County has been viewed as ground zero of the opioid crisis, and we have lessons that we have learned as the community has responded and the opioid deaths have declined,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton.
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Drug addiction can contribute to housing instability and homelessness.
People who live on the streets and can’t find a stable environment are more susceptible to substance abuse, and part of achieving permanent recovery is obtaining safe, affordable housing, Patenaud said.
Part of reason the region has seen success in its battle against opioids is because health care and housing providers are working together, Patenaude said.
THE PATH FORWARD: Can Dayton go from 'overdose capital' to a model for recovery?
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