Lake County’s Quick Response Team (QRT) is a collaborative effort that includes first responders, the Lake County ADAMHS system, and law enforcement. The goal is simple: connect more people who are struggling with addiction disorders with treatment services.
Here’s how QRT works. When a Lake County resident requires medical assistance as the result of an overdose, a Quick Response Team will mobilize and visit that person. Teams are comprised of some combination of a law enforcement officer, firefighter or EMT, and a behavioral health professional. Team members are not in uniform for these visits, arrive in unmarked vehicles, and are prominently wearing QRT IDs. Those strategies help lessen the chance that someone will misinterpret the nature of the visit. “Remember, this is someone who has recently overdosed, and the objective is to facilitate access to help and treatment,” explains ADAMHS Executive Director Kim Fraser. “We can’t accomplish that if someone’s afraid to open their door because they think they’re in trouble.”
The team starts by introducing themselves, explaining QRT, and expressing concern for the individual’s health and safety. If the person is living with family members, the team may ask permission to include them in the conversation. Teams are equipped with QRT literature that offers information on various treatment resources through the ADAMHS network. If the person is ready to engage in treatment the team will offer to immediately transport them. If not, the team leaves a packet of information that makes it clear how to access treatment when the time is right. Literature spotlights our Compass Line as a great place to begin that process.
