A consortium of local partners working together over the past three months recently completed a countywide needs assessment that shows a clearer picture of the gaps and opportunities for opioid use and misuse in Tillamook County. Funded by a federal Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) planning grant, the consortium—dubbed RCORP Tillamook—worked with consultants and community stakeholders to collect and evaluate data relevant to Tillamook County.
Evaluating data-based estimates, the workgroup has determined that around 1,700 to 1,800 people in Tillamook County currently misuse opioids. This number includes three subgroups: those with opioid use disorder (OUD), whether diagnosed or not; those with opioid dependence and who are at-risk for developing the disorder; and those without dependence who occasionally take opioids for non-medical reasons.
The needs assessment document provides brief Tillamook County health and demographic data. It then estimates how many people are misusing opioids in the county, based on data from National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the Oregon Health Authority, and the U.S. Census Bureau. The document then distills the qualitative findings from community interviews into three themes: 1) pain management and prescribing practices; 2) addiction, treatment and recovery; and 3) harm reduction and education. The document describes resources, challenges and potential solutions for each theme as it pertains to Tillamook County. Identifying these main themes will provide a strong outline for the strategic plan that will be completed by the consortium in February.
The final needs assessment document is available online on Adventist Health Tillamook website at AdventistHealthTillamook.org. Upcoming RCORP Tillamook updates between now and the project end in May 2020 will include a strategic plan, a workforce plan, an implementation plan and a sustainability plan. For questions about the needs assessment document or the RCORP Tillamook project, please call 503-815-2308.
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) under grant number G25RH32985, Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Planning, for $200,000 total award. This information or contact and conclusion are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
RCORP Tillamook members include:
Mary Faith Bell, Tillamook County Commissioner
Dr. John Bohlman, Medical Officer, Adventist Health Tillamook
Dr. Jessi Cox, ER Physician, Adventist Health Tillamook
Frank Hanna-Williams, Executive Director, Tillamook Family Counseling Center
Jim Horton, Sheriff, Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office
Linda Kozlowski, Past Chair, Mission Integration Committee, Adventist Health Tillamook
Dusti Linnell, Asst. Professor, OSU Extension Service – Family & Community Health
Gail Nelson, Chief Executive Officer, The Rinehart Clinic
Dr. Rex Parsons, Retired Physician, Mission Integration Committee, Adventist Health Tillamook
Marlene Putman, Administrator, Tillamook County Community Health Clinics
Erin Skaar, Executive Director, Community Action Resource Enterprise Inc.
Joel Stevens, Tillamook County Counsel
Eric Swanson, President, Adventist Health Tillamook
Adventist Health is a faith-based, nonprofit integrated health system serving more than 75 communities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Our workforce of 32,900 includes more than 23,600 employees; nearly 5,000 medical staff physicians; and 4,350 volunteers. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist heritage and values, Adventist Health provides compassionate care in 20 hospitals, more than 260 clinics (hospital-based, rural health and physician clinics), 15 home care agencies, seven hospice agencies and four joint-venture retirement centers. In addition, the Adventist Health Plan serves patients in Kings County. Visit AdventistHealth.org for more information.
