Colerain Twp. Quick Response Team sees drop in overdose calls for second year in a row скачать в хорошем качестве

Colerain Twp. Quick Response Team sees drop in overdose calls for second year in a row

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKRC) - The Colerain Township Quick Response Team (QRT) was the first of its kind back in July 2015. It was created in response to the opioid crisis and the increasing number of overdose victims. Since then, it's won several national awards. "We just went out there and showed people that we cared. That we could help them. We could get them into treatment and that they and their families could begin recovery," Nan Franks, CEO of Addiction Services Council, said. The QRT is a three-person unit with firefighters, paramedics, police officers and addiction counselors. From a high in 2017 of 238 overdose calls, Colerain Township only had 139 in 2019 -- the second year in a row to have fewer overdose calls. "It means a reduction in the number of deaths associated with those overdoses. It means a reduction in crime," Assistant Fire Chief Will Mueller said. From its start in 2015 through the end of 2019, QRT crews have made nearly 500 follow-up visits to overdose patients. More than half of those visits ended up with the person seeking treatment for their addiction. "The one reaction that we do get is just the sheer shock that we're there outside of our traditional role and that we're there willing to extend a hand outside of what we would normally do. We hear it over and over again, 'I just can't believe that you care that much to come back,'" Mueller said. "We're going to come to you and we're going to do everything we can to help you and your family and to make sure that this doesn't happen again," Franks said. The program has been duplicated in cities and towns across the country to battle the opioid crisis. "Not only do we get to interact with those communities across the nation and learn from them, they get to learn from us. So, it's really created a nationwide collaboration," Mueller said.