MCRIC Partners with GOCCP & CESAR for COSSUP Evaluations

Researchers from the Maryland Crime Research and Innovation Center (MCRIC) and Center for Substance Use, Addiction, and Health Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland partnered for an evaluation of seven Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Programs (COAP). After peaking in 2023, substance-involved deaths have declined in recent years, the number of people experiencing overdoses continues to be high and presents a pressing challenge for public health and community safety. In Maryland, more than 1,700 people lost their lives due to an overdose. 

The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP) awarded MCRIC and CESAR $400,000 to support the analysis of seven jurisdictional-based programs that assist low-level offenders, who interact with the criminal legal system due to substance use disorders, in an effort to reduce the harm of using substances and probability of cycling through the system. Findings from that effort were recently released in the Assessing the Impact of Local COAP Programs on Illicit Substance Use and Misuse: Maryland Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Programs (COAP) Multi-Site Evaluation.  

The research team utilized a mixed-method approach to evaluate seven of these programs: three newly funded in FY22 (Allegany County, Anne Arundel County, and Calvert County) and four continuing programs (Carroll County, Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD), Harford County, and St. Mary’s County).  

The urgency of responding to the opioid crisis and substance misuse is palpable in Maryland. This is a complex problem that touches each jurisdiction in Maryland, yet the way it appears looks different for each community. This variation requires innovative solutions. Though programs varied, the UMD team identified several common program successes including the development of effective collaborative networks within communities and offering unique, flexible case plans for participants with a focus on harm-reduction principles.  

Challenges also exist that offer opportunities for strengthening approaches to addressing opioid and substance abuse related issues impacting the state. Most notably, recruitment, retention, and buy-in are commonly experienced challenges across programs. Additionally, program staff shared hesitancies with buy-in from agencies as well as eligible program participants, cross-agency coordination challenges, and the need for broader education campaigns.  

Key recommendations focus on increasing the awareness of programs to support individuals experiencing opioid and substance abuse challenges, improvements in the reporting of metrics and the collection and standardization of data, increased support for implementation evaluations to better document and respond to early program challenges, and improvements in service delivery that recognize unique community and individual needs.