Samaritan Recovery Receives Grants To Combat Opioid Crisis In Nashville

Samaritan Recovery Community (Samaritan), a leading provider of addiction treatment services in Tennessee, has been awarded two significant grants, one from the Metro Health Department, totaling $1.6 million and one from the Opioid Abatement Council, totaling $350,000, to address the opioid crisis in Nashville. The grants enable Samaritan to expand its services and provide life-saving care to individuals struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD).

Samaritan Recovery Community has been at the forefront of combating the opioid epidemic locally, offering comprehensive services, including social detox, inpatient recovery and long-term residential treatment.

“These funds allow us to expand our clinical detox program by adding eight full-time dedicated clinical detox beds, enhancing our ability to provide immediate, same-day care for individuals suffering from OUD,” said Dr. Mark Lasko, CEO and executive director at Samaritan. “While these grants signal significant progress for Samaritan, they also represent a significant step forward in combating the opioid crisis locally, ensuring that more residents have access to life-saving treatment.”

The Metro Health Department grant enables Samaritan to utilize the fifth floor of its new state-of-the-art facility, which opened in March of this year at the entrance to East Nashville, at 5th and Shelby, only a few blocks from the East Bank and Titans stadium redevelopment, for a new respite care program. The program will facilitate swift admission and care regardless of financial status and address congestion in the system by providing 16 double-occupancy beds and clinical space, allowing Samaritan to accept overdose patients from local emergency services. Ultimately, respite care aims to redirect over 800 individuals from other emergency service sectors over 15 months.

“Our respite care navigators will be the primary point of contact for emergency services, coordinating with personnel to facilitate necessary transport and admission,” Dr. Lasko explained. “We understand that this rapid response protocol is crucial for providing immediate care to individuals suffering from OUD.”

The Opioid Abatement Council Grant funds the expansion of Samaritan’s Clinical Detox program, adding staff to offer 24-hour coverage five days a week and same-day admissions. This expanded staffing will support eight full-time clinical detox beds, allowing Samaritan to provide immediate care for up to 750 individuals annually.

Samaritan’s innovative approach to addiction treatment, combined with its dedication to serving the community, has positioned the organization to effectively battle opioid addiction in our communities and support Tennesseans in need. With the support of these grants, Samaritan’s primary aim is to make a positive, lasting impact on the lives of those affected by OUD in Nashville.

For more information, visit samctr.org.