D4 - Merging the Cultures of Behavioral Health and Law Enforcement to Create a Collaborative Team to Address Opioid Overdose

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

3:15 PM – 4:45 PM

Location: Peale A-C, Level 1

CE: 1.5

Primary Presenter(s)

Daniel Barden, MS

Vice President for Clinical Services
CODAC Health Recovery & Wellness, Inc.
Tucson, Arizona

Download Slides

Co-Presenter(s)

Larry Onate, MD

Medical Director- Substance Use Disorder Programs
CODAC Health Recovery & Wellness, Inc
Tucson, Arizona
Ericka Stropka, B.S.

Lieutenant
Tucson Police Department
Tucson, Arizona

Learning Objectives:

At the completion of this activity, participants will:

Describe to steps and processes involved in building a cross agency partnership between treatment and law enforcement.
Identify steps to overcome cultural and mission differences of perception between behavioral health and law enforcement.
Define strategies to address challenges to creating collaborative partnerships necessary to establish integrated patient-centered programs that connect individuals to substance use treatment

Presentation Summary: Coordinated strategic responses involving law enforcement and treatment providers can connect opioid users to appropriate, evidence-based treatment and services and, ultimately, save lives and communities. In Tucson, Arizona the Deflection program models such a collaboration of law enforcement and treatment partners. Implementation of the Deflection program required a merging of the cultures, visions and values of the partners. Workshop presenters will discuss how they addressed divergent beliefs around substance misuse, community relations, and the synching of the missions and values of multiple systems through collaboration and education creating solutions informed by best practice. Research and data are discussed.