Safety workers on the front lines of the opioid epidemic are launching weekly visits to the homes of about a third of the people suspected of overdosing in Akron the week before.
Called quick response teams, a trio consisting of a police officer, fire department paramedic and drug addiction specialist has been assembled to provide outreach and education to suspected drug users and their families.
The city is expected to formally announce the plan Tuesday, with the first home visits on Thursday.
Akron police visited City Council on Monday to ask for permission to go after $300,000 in the U.S. Department of Justice grant funding to add more teams.
“We’re hopeful that funds are available to expand the program because the need in Akron is among the greatest in the nation,” said Akron Deputy Police Chief Kenneth Ball.
There’s “no concrete budget” for how the funds would be spent. But authorities said more than one team would be available should Akron receive the full grant award.
The city is developing its program and applying for grants with the guidance of a researcher from the University of Akron and the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Services Board, which has helped coordinate quick response teams in Cuyahoga Falls, Green, Barberton, Norton and Tallmadge
The program was piloted last year in Colerain Township in Hamilton County.
In Akron, police would compile a weekly list of the addresses of suspected drug users who overdosed. The Zip code with the most cases would be targeted for 10 visits every Thursday.
At its worst in July, nearly 60 people were suspected of overdosing each week in Akron, according to a Beacon Journal analysis of Summit County Public Health data. That number has dropped to about 35.
Though reported overdoses have fallen sharply, cases remained in the double digits through the end of 2016 in East Akron, Ellet, Kenmore, Goodyear Heights, Sherbondy Hill, West Akron and Firestone Park/South Akron.
Resources can’t keep up with demand.
“In one day, you cannot possibly see all the overdose victims,” said Eric Wood, an officer and grant writer for the Akron Police Department.
Akron police officers said they are working with service providers and donors to acquire Narcan, or naloxone, to distribute during home visits. The spray agent reverses overdoses.
Doug Livingston can be reached at 330-996-3792 or dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @ABJDoug .