Community Outreach Addictions Team in Wicomico County is working to end the opioid epidemic

The opioid epidemic is taking loved ones day by day. Nationwide, it's an issue and it's no different here on Delmarva. One county is continuing to make a difference. 

On Monday, the Greater Salisbury Committee partnered with the Wicomico County Health Department and their partners to highlight COAT: Community Outreach Addictions Team. 

Lori Brewster, a health officer for Wicomico County Health Department says, "We go in 24/7 and we start talking to the individuals, what led them to the overdose, how many times overdosed, what can the team do to help them."

In 2016, it was a program that was just launching. Now two years later, they have four peers, who have a history of addiction but have been sober for two years. These peers act as mentors to help those struggling with addiction in order to get them to treatment. 

COAT is made up of several partners, such as PRMC, the State's Attorney's Office and Sheriff's Office. 

Since starting, they've seen 42% drop for opioid-related deaths in Wicomico County. While the state has seen 12%. 

During those two years, they haven't only decreased the numbers in fatality rates. They've seen decreased costs to health care and the criminal justice system. 

But they have fought and continue to fight to keep those rates down. There's no better way to do that than by getting the message out to key members of the community, the Greater Salisbury Committee. 

President of the Greater Salisbury Committee, Mike Dunn, tells 47 ABC, "They have probably 30,000 employees if you take everybody in those businesses together to get this message out to them to see the success of the program and see the local crisis."

COAT is just one of the many components that Wicomico County is doing. 

They have an overdose fatality team and they have an opioid intervention team. 

As for the future, they are working with families who have substance exposed newborns. They are trying to connect them with services as quickly as possible. Beyond that, they are looking to create a 24-hour access facility.