April is County Government Month! Last month we touched on roads — a primary focus of county government. This month we’re shifting lanes to behavioral health, another significant area of emphasis for all counties.

Combating the opioid epidemic has been a primary behavioral health focus for the last number of years as our county has hovered among the top three in the state per capita for overdose deaths; we have been losing too many of our family members, friends and neighbors.

However, the combination of increased funding for public health, prioritized by the State Legislature through the Foundational Public Health Services program, and an influx of dollars from national opioid settlements has helped us begin to turn the tide.

The primary strategy we’ve taken in this arena has been to establish the Harm Reduction Health Center. What is harm reduction? We can think of many things as harm reduction; using a seatbelt or putting on sunscreen are good examples. But what is harm reduction as it relates to substance use disorder?

According to Siri Sims, Clallam County’s harm reduction coordinator, “Our mission is to support people who use substances by offering safer use supplies and low-barrier services… no judgment, just compassion and care. We’re here for Clallam County residents, and our work is rooted in the belief that every person deserves dignity, respect, and access to resources that can help them stay safer and healthier.”

At the Harm Reduction Health Center autonomy and personal choice are respected. The space is intentionally designed to be welcoming, supportive, and confidential because trust is everything in this work.

“We also deeply believe that the people who use our services are not just clients or patients, but they’re experts in their own experience. Our role is to stand alongside them, offering tools, information, and care that help reduce the risks associated with substance use like overdose, infection, and isolation. At the end of the day, the Harm Reduction Health Center isn’t just about handing out supplies; it’s about building relationships, restoring dignity, and making sure that every person who walks through our doors knows they matter.”

I am encouraged by this compassionate approach, which is fully supported by all three county commissioners, and it appears to be working. While we don’t yet have causational data, and while there are certainly multiple reasons we’re seeing improvement, last year Clallam County realized a 33% reduction in overdose deaths as compared to 2023. We see a clear trend line correlating the number of visits to the Harm Reduction Health Center, which has been increasing each quarter since it opened, and the reduction in overdose deaths.

Clallam County works with myriad partners who all play an integral role: Olympic Peninsula Community Clinic provides wound care; REdisCOVERY performs substance use disorder assessments for entering treatment; Peninsula Behavioral Health and Reflections Counseling Services provide staff members to engage with and support participants; the North Olympic Healthcare Network is available to assist patients in obtaining insurance while volunteers bring baked goods and clothing donations and serve food.

We still have a lot of work to do and your Board of Health and Behavioral Health Advisory Board — both comprised of community members with expertise and interest in these subjects — have already begun to discuss next steps, including a conversation about how the potential for significant cuts to Medicaid will impact our collective ability to support the health and well-being of so many in our community.

We expect revenue from additional opioid settlements will provide new opportunities for progress and everyone from law enforcement, to community providers, to those with lived experience, to your dedicated county team will continue to invest in strategies that are data-driven, centered on compassion and reliant on our amazing community partners.

Let’s continue working to save lives, restore families and build community.