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Barnstable County Department of Human Services Report Cited in Newly Released Public Health Toolkit Addressing the Opioid Epidemic

For more information contact:
Elizabeth Albert, Director
508‐375‐6626
balbert@capecod.gov

August 24, 2018 – A report published by Barnstable County’s Department of Human Services that analyzed opioid -related overdose deaths and implications for the trades and service workers and straight-to-work population has been identified as a best practice by the Massachusetts Health Officers Association and Education Development Center (EDC).

The EDC has just published a Local Public Health Toolkit for Addressing the Opioid Epidemic Substance Use Disorder which is intended to help local health departments work effectively to address the issues associated with the opioid epidemic in towns and cities across Massachusetts.

Barnstable County’s work in included among the evidenced-based recommendations intended to reduce the disproportionate number of opioid deaths on Cape Cod among workers in the trades and service industries with targeted interventions. This work is part of a larger effort by Barnstable County Human Services and the Regional Substance Use Council to address substance use on Cape Cod.

The toolkit is endorsed by the Coalition of the Public Health (Massachusetts Health Officers Association, Massachusetts Association of Public Health Nurses, Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, Massachusetts Public Health Association, and the Massachusetts Environmental Health Association). View the toolkit at http://opioid-toolkit.mhoa.com/

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