State Opioid and Overdose Response (SOOR) plan
Opioids including prescription pain medication, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as Fentanyl—are causing a serious public health and community crisis across the nation. The State's response is further complicated by a concurrent rise in stimulant use and overdose. Each day about three people die of an overdose in Washington; thousands more struggle with addiction.
Opioid misuse and addiction can cause serious medical, social and financial problems. Social determinants of health, such as economic and social conditions, continue to disproportionately affect BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other disenfranchised communities that results in long standing differences in health status, including behavioral health. This plan is committed to addressing issues of systemic racism that causes these inequities.
Sign up to get email updates and reminders.
What are the goals?
The Health Care Authority (HCA) is joining with partners across the state to implement a State Opioid Response Plan focusing our efforts on four priority goals:
- Prevent opioid misuse
- Identify and treat substance use disorder
- Ensure and improve the health and wellness of individuals that use drugs
- Use data to detect opioid misuse/abuse, monitor illness, injury and death, and evaluate interventions.
- Support individuals in recovery
Note: for 24-hour assistance for substance use disorder or mental health challenges, call the Washington Recovery Helpline.
- Opioid information
- Public education
Washington Opioid Response Workgroup meetings
Regular meetings of the Opioid Response Workgroup will be virtual unless otherwise noted.
2023 meetings
| Date | How to join | Meeting materials |
|---|---|---|
| March 3 | Agenda (03/02/2023) |
Past meetings
- 2022
-
Date
Meeting materials
November 17
September 15
July 21
May 19 March 15
January 20
- 2021
-
Date
Meeting materials
November 18 July 15
May 20
March 18
January
- 2020
-
Date
Meeting materials
November
September
July
April
Contact
Kris Shera
State opioid coordinator
Email: Kris.Shera@hca.wa.gov
Phone: 360-725-1955