Connecting overdose survivors to vital treatment

“The goal is to help patients receive treatment and tools necessary to help break the cycle of addiction.” — Jessica Plazewski, Vice President & COO of SalusCare

SalusCare is partnering with key community organizations, including Lee County EMS and Family Health Centers, to provide essential detoxification and treatment services for overdose patients. This initiative is part of the Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) Network in Florida, aimed at addressing the opioid crisis through comprehensive care.

The program is administered by the Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, which is funded by grants from the state’s Opioid Settlement Agreement and operates in partnership with the Department of Health, the Department of Children and Families, and the Agency for Health Care Administration.

“We are utilizing this program to create a pathway for individuals with substance use disorder to lifesaving information and treatment,” said Jessica Plazewski, vice president and COO of SalusCare, which has 24/7 detoxification services and is a free distribution site for Narcan. “We are working with Lee County EMS to link patients to substance use disorder treatment where appropriate instead of taking them to the emergency room. The goal is to help patients receive treatment and tools necessary to help break the cycle of addiction.”

The first of its kind in the nation, the CORE program began in 2022 in 12 counties and expanded to include Lee County in 2024. State data revealed that EMS responded to 4,453 overdose calls in Lee County in 2022, underscoring the critical need for this initiative.

“Streamlining the process from an EMS encounter to long-term treatment has been shown to improve treatment compliance,” said Benjamin Abes, director of Lee County Public Safety. “We want to provide every option to those who need help in our community, as it’s an opportunity to break the cycle and reduce the impacts of overdoses on our residents and their families.”

Lee County has secured $1.5 million in funding for the program, which supports increased staffing, training, transportation for participants, take-home fentanyl drug tests, and other necessary items. Florida is set to receive over $3.1 billion over 18 years from more than $50 billion in national opioid settlements with pharmaceutical companies and distributors.

The CORE program operates under a connected care model that starts with first responders connecting overdose patients to specialized substance use disorder care. Patients are stabilized and linked to treatment programs. The sustainable recovery portion of the care model connects them with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), mental health support, primary care, and social services.

“Since its inception, CORE has helped to facilitate connections with key stakeholders and health care networks across our state to combat overdose and addiction and connect individuals suffering from substance use disorder with life-saving care,” said Department of Child and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris in a press release about the program. “The work that the CORE program has done in its first year is unprecedented, and the Department is so proud to work alongside the Department of Health and other partners in continuing the fight to end the opioid epidemic.”

Visit SalusCareFlorida.org for more information. ¦

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