Spectrum Health and Evergreen Health are teaming up to help deal with the local overdose crisis.

The two groups have received a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 

"Spectrum Health was thrilled to be chosen for this SAMHSA grant with Evergreen," said Cindy Voelker, associate CEO of Spectrum Health. "There is a secondary tragedy during the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s the increase in deaths due to drug overdose. According to the Erie County Opioid Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control, there was a 29.4% increase in opioid-related deaths since 2019. We had been making progress in decreasing overdose deaths prior to the pandemic, and now our services are even more important."

More than $2.6 million will help to expand medication-assisted treatment services in rural communities.

These services will be for teenagers and adults with substance abuse or opioid use disorder and those at risk of HIV and Hepatitis C from drug use.

"The impact of extending our MAT programs is not only to reduce overdose deaths, but also to provide wraparound and lifesaving services," said Khristopher Decker, vice president of behavioral health at Evergreen Health. "By linking at-risk individuals to vital drug user health services like MAT, we also open the door to providing medical, supportive and behavioral services, which can have true impact on a community’s health and the health of its residents. This grant will mean helping more communities and the people and families who have been historically underserved by the healthcare system." 

Spectrum Health plans to put mobile therapy units in Springville and Warsaw, while Evergreen Health will expand its services to Jamestown.