Agenda 05-06-25; 6-a - Opioid Advisory Committee Settlement Fund Use Recommendations

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112 C. Equity Impact The mission of SHAC SSP is to address health inequities experienced by PWUD by providing them with safe injection supplies, overdose reversal kits, and direct referrals to other medical and social services. Through our services, we aim to improve health outcomes, including comorbidities associated with drug use, for this population. While we do not currently track participant demographics, we are uniquely situated to reach historically marginalized populations through our collaboration with IFC. IFC serves a highly diverse population (-70% Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), which is reflected in the population we serve at the SSP. Due to the services offered by IFC that are largely focused on housing and financial security, our location there allows participants to receive comprehensive services in a single visit. They are able to receive not only harm reduction resources from SHAC SSP but also free dinner and connections to housing and job support without needing to travel between services. In this way, we are able to serve historically marginalized communities including diverse populations, those experiencing homelessness and unemployment, and people who use drugs. SHAC SSP is also in a unique position to address health inequities because of our connection with the overarching Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC) organization at UNC. SHAC offers many services, including primary care, gender-affirming care, mental health and counseling services, pediatric care, dental clinic, nutritional counseling, and more. Two branches of SHAC that are particularly impactful for community members who are uninsured or underinsured are Get Covered Carolina and SHAC Medication Assistance Program (MAP). Get Covered Carolina works with underserved local populations to help vulnerable patients navigate options for health insurance and apply for coverage. Their program has Certified Application Counselors that work individually with patients to navigate the complicated online insurance marketplace and weigh options for their health. This is particularly helpful for those who do not have the necessary literacy skills to navigate application or are uncomfortable in government-operated spaces for assistance. SHAC MAP works with similar vulnerable populations of our community to provide free access to their medications through state and manufacturer patient assistance programs. Most of these efforts focus on medications used to manage chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and smoking cessation, which are conditions that disproportionately impact people living in poverty. Without the ability to pay for medications, these conditions often go untreated, worsening the burden of disease on patients and the overall population.