Our mission is to create and enhance conditions in our community that lead to sustained support for a continuum of care throughout a person’s wellness journey.
Purpose
• Convene interested individuals and groups
• Coordinate efforts, resources and events when possible
• Share and promote best practices
• Come together around specific projects
• Focus on the places where there is agreement and synergy
• Share information and data
Values
• We value a holistic approach that addresses all factors that impact a person’s health and wellness.
• We value diversity in our team members and community partners.
• We value and respect people living with a substance use disorder and their lived experiences.
• We value addressing implicit and explicit bias and stigma.
• We value cultural humility.
• We value culturally respectful and appropriate services.
• We value collaboration and consensus building decision making.
• We value evidence-based practices, data and science about substance use and health
Goals
• Coordinated, equal access to quality and appropriate treatment
• Increased best practice treatment services
• Comprehensive education and marketing about treatment options, prevention and support, and risks and signs of addiction
• Stigma reduction
• Comprehensive support services for families and communities
• Polices, systems and practices that ensure equal access to appropriate and timely services and information.
How Structural Racism Impacts our Mission
Structural racism and discrimination greatly contribute to the disparities seen in substance use disorder. Individuals who are subjected to racism, discrimination, and the resulting stress from these experiences have a greater risk to engage in behavioral health conditions, such as, substance use disorder. Poverty, language barriers, and stigma among other factors related to structural racism can exacerbate the prevalence of substance use disorder and influence access to quality care. In working with the community, the Overdose Action Team takes into consideration the effect structural racism has on our fight against the drug epidemic.