OKLAHOMA CITY ( KFOR ) – The Oklahoma City Fire Department, in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services among other organizations, announced the launch of its new Mobile Integrated Health Unit in an effort to combat what officials called an overdose crisis.
“Oklahoma City, like other communities in the country is in the midst of an overdose crisis,” said Chief Mike Walker with OKCFD. “This is largely fueled by fentanyl and only methamphetamines.”
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Walker and multiple other officials like Bonnie Campo with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services are hoping the newly formed unit can make a huge impact.
“It truly is already saving lives,” Campo said.
The unit is made up of two programs. One is the Community Advocacy Program, or CAP. It was formed in 2019 to give alternative help to people who chronically use 911 services. The other unit making up the team is the Overdose Response Team, which was launched in July of 2023 to respond to patients that recently survived overdoses and offer medical follow ups while guiding them to rehab services.