By the unanimous vote of the Helper City Council at its May 5 meeting, the united front against drug abuse in Carbon County became complete. Hopes are that Carbon will eventually shed the stigma of being the number one county in the number six state for opioid deaths.
Helper was the last of the cities to join, taking its time to learn why, with an array of anti-drug agencies and programs already in place, a new one was necessary.
“Because it’s like an orchestra without a conductor,” said Tiffany Van Sickle, Prevention Coordinator for Four Corners Community Behavioral Health. She went on to tell the council that the program, Communities that Care in Carbon County, is intended to unify and coordinate efforts.
Many are involved
County government, all four cities, Carbon School District, Castleview Hospital, and Four Corners now all contribute, with USU Eastern contributing and acting as fiscal agent. Those annual contributions, ranging for $3,000 for the county to $650 for the small cities of Helper, Wellington and East Carbon, will be enough to get a matching three-year grant to hire a part-time coalition coordinator, she said.
The program is science-based, but intended to be tailored to suit the needs of different counties.
It will begin with comprehensive data-gathering, Van Sickle said, “because when you have assessments, it opens doors for grants.”
When asked for examples of what has worked, she replied that a statewide study showed Tooele has reduced its abuse and death rates after adopting the concept. “Carbon County was the control group,” she said, meaning it was the basis for comparison between those communities with coalitions and those without.
Each member of the coalition has a seat on the board, which is the place to share ideas and decide priorities.