Opioid Task Force Would Involve Centralized Case Management

A county public health director in New York state recently presented a plan for an opioid task force that would employ a case manager dedicated solely to locating inpatient rehabilitation beds and follow-up counseling for addicts, according to the Salamanca Press.

Like many parts of the U.S., Cattaraugus County in New York struggles with combatting opioid abuse and has a lack of inpatient facilities to treat patients with substance abuse, which is why County Public Health Director Dr. Kevin Watkins said the task force is a top priority.

While the plan focuses on the need for hiring a case manager dedicated to assisting these patients with treatment and placement, it also incorporates the Council on Addiction Recovery Services and several community resources. Physician training is another component of the county’s strategy. It plans to provide physicians with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for prescribing opioids and train primary care providers on Suboxone therapy.