End the Syndemic: Community Coalitions Confronting Opioids as a Co-Occuring Disorder is a toolkit primarily for community coalitions. It will, however, be useful for a range of partners participating in community planning, including local authorities, elected representatives, service providers, and private sector interests.
This toolkit was created to assist coalitions in specifically addressing complications of the syndemic effect of the epidemic of opioid use disorder and other behavioral health diagnoses that are identified as co-occuring disorders. The mental health crisis resulting from social isolation and unprecedented anxieties of our times has forced community-based coalitions to modify the way we reach our target populations.
Coalitions can use this toolkit to build upon existing products and coalition processes to maximize effectiveness as our nation enters a new normal. By embracing new strategies and addressing the community’s rising awareness of behavioral health disorders, coalitions can remain on the forefront of addressing emerging threats to prevent negative consequences.