Badges and Behavior Tackle Opioids and More!

Opioid Addiction, Substance Abuse Treatment, and More!

February 18, 2025

Hi there,

We’ve got more law enforcement and behavioral health cases for you. In this issue, we'll bring you three articles that deepen your understanding of the intersection between law enforcement and behavioral health. We aim to provide valuable insights, facts, and updates about these critical topics. This weeks will focus on mental health crisis response and provide several articles related to substance abuse.

ALSO, just a heads up—we’ll be sending emails out on Wednesdays from now on. Try not to miss us too much! 😉 Now, let’s dive in! 📚

Today’s Brief:

  • North Carolina Mental Health Crisis Response

  • Washington Addiction Treatment Struggles

  • Wood County Gets Opioid Grants

  • Bonus Brief 

North Carolina health officials are launching a $20 million program to remove law enforcement from mental health crisis transportation, opting for trauma-informed providers instead. The initiative aims to reduce stigma around seeking mental health care and address the risks associated with police involvement in such situations. This shift is seen as a crucial step forward in providing more effective and compassionate care for individuals in crisis.

Washington addiction treatment centers are facing financial challenges as they struggle to cover basic necessities for publicly insured patients, receiving only $14.20 a day. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is advocating for more state funding to cover patients' basic needs. The Association of Alcoholism and Addiction Programs of Washington State is pushing for rates to increase to at least $84 per patient per day.

In Partnership with:

JULOTA

Julota empowers smarter crisis responses by simplifying and streamlining Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health programs. By integrating hospital, EMS, and social services data into a centralized platform, it enables seamless, secure, and HIPAA-compliant collaboration. Automated reporting ensures compliance, while customizable workflows address community-specific needs. With actionable insights, teams can improve outcomes and secure greater funding, making Julota the only software purpose-built to bridge law enforcement and behavioral health with compassion and efficiency.

The Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board and partner agencies experienced confusion and budget adjustments due to changes in Ohio's State Opioid and Stimulus grants. The state shifted focus to one-time projects for the current fiscal year, resulting in reduced funding for Wood County service providers. This led to creative solutions and reallocations of funds to sustain existing programs.

The changes also impacted recovery programs, leading to the closure of a recovery house in Cygnet. The board approved revised contracts for various agencies to address the funding cuts. Additionally, a new oversight committee was established to evaluate services and oversee financial affairs. The board also discussed cybersecurity issues and progress towards achieving Culture of Quality accreditation.

Bonus

Oneida County Department of Mental Health awards funding to five local organizations to implement innovative projects targeting critical areas affected by the opioid crisis.

Thank you for joining us for this issue of Badges and Behavioral Health. We hope these insights have provided a deeper understanding of the intersection between law enforcement and behavioral health. Please join us again for our next issue. Until then, stay informed and stay safe. Thanks for reading! 👋

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