Good morning, Bianca. Thanks for contacting CTB.
Let's frame your objective during a 6-month stay as trying to lay a foundation for what might then be an ongoing effort by local people in Arenac County. That raises several possibilities:
First, who else, and what organizations, in the county are already focusing on the opioid epidemic there? If you have not done so, I suggest that you query the local health department, coroner, hospital emergency rooms, any available behavioral health (MH and SUD) providers, school district and law enforcement, county government officials; maybe even the local newspaper. Find out several things. What information have they already compiled about opioid use there? In what ways are they concerned about opioid use there? Are they working together/talking with each other about the issue? (if not, your most valuable short-term contribution may be bringing them all together to share information and form a coalition against opioid use.).
Second, I suggest you query state behavioral health officials. What additional information might they have compiled that compares opioid use in Arenac County with other counties in the state. Ask for rate per thousand population information rather than just numerical counts, so you can make meaningful comparisons.
Finally, I encourage you to look at https://samhsa.gov for a lot of information about opioid use. If other local resources with whom you have talked are not aware of this website, show them how to find it and what all it provides concerning the opioid epidemic.
You have focused upon a very important public health issue. Although you are an "outsider" you bring genuine concern about the issue. As you talk with some or all of those local resource people, approach them as a learner; be nonjudgmental and affirm what they might already be doing or considering.
Because yoy will be there only six months, I have checked three of our core competencies that can contribute to laying foundation for subsequent leadership by others.
