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California Opioid Safety Coalition

A statewide network of 16 local coalitions in 23 counties focused on safe opioid prescribing, expanding use of medications for opioid use disorder, and wider access to naloxone

In response to the opioid crisis, the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) launched the California Opioid Safety Network (COSN): 16 community coalitions with the objective of supporting three main strategies:

  • educating providers on the safe prescribing of opioids
  • expanding use of buprenorphine as a medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)
  • increasing the availability of naloxone for reversing opioid overdoses

CHCF provided technical assistance to form coalitions and support implementation of the strategies.

At its website, COSN provides informational resources and tools on:

  • safe prescribing
  • alternative treatment for pain
  • MOUD
  • naloxone distribution
  • harm reduction
  • building sustainable coalitions
  • measuring and communicating outcomes
  • planning for sustainable partnerships

Participating coalition counties have built unprecedented partnerships and engagement across sectors.

Continuum of Care
Prevention
Treatment
Type of Evidence
Peer-reviewed
Report with evaluation
Response Approach
Cautious Opioid Prescribing
Educational
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Overdose prevention
Peer-reviewed Article
Tackling an epidemic: an assessment of California Opioid Safety Coalitions Network
Impacts of prescription drug monitoring program policy changes and county opioid safety coalitions on prescribing and overdose outcomes in California, 2015–2018
Related Resources
Key Components for Delivering Community-Based Medication-Assisted Treatment Services for Opioid Use Disorder in New Hampshire
The Communities That Care Coalition Model for Improving Community Health through Clinical–Community Partnerships: A Population Health Case Report
An Assessment of the Sustainability and Impact of Community Coalitions once Federal Funding has Expired
Addressing the Opioid Crisis through Community Prevention: An Application of the Seven Strategies for Community Change
Routes of Non-Traditional Entry into Buprenorphine Treatment Programs
Primary Care: On the Front Lines of the Opioid Epidemic
SAMHSA Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit
Evidence-Based Strategies for Preventing Opioid Overdose: What’s Working in the United States

Evidence of Program Effectiveness

In the peer-reviewed literature:

"Having a county coalition was associated with a 2% decrease in the opioid prescribing rate; receiving Initiative support was associated with an additional 2% decrease...county coalitions were associated with a 21% decrease in prescription opioid overdose deaths." (Henry et al., 2021)

In an evaluation report:

  • 90% of coalitions developed and/or promoted safe prescribing guidelines that were adopted by primary care and emergency department facilities
  • >50% of coalitions sponsored buprenorphine waiver trainings, conducted outreach to primary care offices to encourage buprenorphine prescribing, or worked with community clinics to integrate addiction treatment into primary care. 80% of coalitions also promoted other addiction medications such as naltrexone
  • >75% of coalitions worked with providers to co-prescribe naloxone with opioids and/or supported pharmacies in ensuring naloxone availability. More than two-thirds of coalitions also worked closely with first responders to carry naloxone

Program evidence found here