AGENCY TESTIMONY
Drug Intelligence and Intervention Group (DIG): Supporting families affected by overdose deaths
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ยท
116 sec
Van Pelt provides a detailed explanation of the Drug Intelligence and Intervention Group (DIG), an innovative initiative designed to support families and survivors affected by overdose deaths.
- DIG was established to address the needs of an underserved population impacted by the opioid crisis
- The initiative employs social workers and public health professionals to provide a range of services and referrals
- Since September 2022, DIG has spoken with over 2,536 individuals who lost loved ones to overdose
- 75% of these individuals (nearly 1,900) have received help or referrals from DIG's family support team
Robert Van Pelt
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1st, the dig.
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Data compiled from our years of work on this crisis have shown us that for every overdose death, there are loved ones left behind and affected by the loss, many of whom remain vulnerable to a range of unaddressed needs themselves.
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Due to the in intimate and sensitive nature of our mission, OCME often has unique and trusted access to these survivors, placing us in a unique position to assist.
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This initiative shows us this initiative allows us to move beyond the traditional role of medical examiners and to pioneer innovative solutions to meet these unmet needs.
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The dig was established to address the needs of this underserved population and to combat the Fentanyl driven opioid crisis through a new and novel targeted approach.
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Through this initiative, when someone dies of an overdose, OCME investigation and response now includes skilled social workers and public health professionals who engage with surviving family members and close contacts to provide a wide range of potentially life saving services and referrals.
0:31:17
These interventions include grief counseling, substance use services, housing assistance, health care, and more.
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The settlement funds were invested to hire 11 of these professionals, and the dig has shown impressive results.
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Since the dig's formation in September of 2022 until December 1, 2024, the the team has spoken with more than 2,536 individuals who have lost a loved one.
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Of these individuals, 75 percent or nearly 1900 individuals have received help from Dibb's family support team or referrals to programs for support.