The Corporation Of Mercer University

In North Georgia's Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, and Polk counties, opioid overdose is a severe crisis. These counties face alarmingly high opioid overdose mortality rates, with each exceeding the state average. Between 2019 and 2020, Georgia witnessed a 35% surge in drug-related deaths, and Fannin County ranked in the top 5% nationwide for vulnerability to HIV and Hepatitis C due to the opioid epidemic. The region also reports a 36% higher rate of overdose-related ER visits compared to the state and 120% higher than the national average. The population here is predominantly uninsured, older, and grappling with poverty. Despite the North Georgia OPEN program's efforts, access to effective prevention, treatment, and recovery services remains problematic across these counties. For instance, during the three-year RCORP Implementation Project, the number of DATA-waived Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) providers increased from two to three, yet these are the sole MAT providers for the entire four-county area, resulting in a ratio of over 75,000 residents per MAT-waived provider. The dearth of substance use disorder treatment resources underscores the critical need for both opioid use disorder prevention and overdose prevention. The North Georgia OPEN Consortium comprises partners, including Mercer University School of Medicine, Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, Highland Rivers Health, the Appalachian Circuit Drug Court, Gilmer County Probate Court, Huff's Drug Store, Family Connections, Mountain Education Charter High School, Georgia Prevention Initiative, and 3 recovery community organizations. This consortium boasts a diverse composition of representatives from higher education, substance use disorder treatment, recovery community organizations, the court system, law enforcement, pharmacy, and educational support. It ensures a multi-dimensional approach to all implementation activities by involving supporting members from each partner's network.