The Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis has been on the front line in the war against substance abuse and the effort to reduce healthcare disparities throughout the region.
The organization has enlisted a new ally in Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Missouri, which has given the Urban league a $150,000 grant that it will use to strengthen its community health and wellness programs. The donation will support both the Community Mobile Health Clinic and the Opioid Triage Team.
“Anthem continues to be a strong partner for the Urban League as we address the significant health disparities that exist in our community” said Michael P. McMillan, Urban League president and CEO.
“This grant will allow us to provide important health screenings and other critical wellness services where access is limited and better address those impacted by opioid abuse.”
The Community Mobile Health Clinic brings preventive medical care and screenings to vulnerable populations. No-cost services include blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol screenings as well as preventive care such as flu shots. Individuals will also be screened for food insecurity and referred to a nearby food bank.
“Anthem is committed to identifying and eliminating health disparities. One in five Americans say lack of transportation has kept them from essential appointments and services, and social drivers of health such as food insecurity contribute to poor health outcomes,” said Stephanie Vojicic, Anthem Missouri president.
“These facts underscore the urgency of addressing the comprehensive needs of our communities by meeting people where they are. We are proud to partner with the Urban League because they have the expertise to be able to reach our most vulnerable populations.”
The Urban League’s Opioid Triage team provides direct services to those impacted by opioid abuse. The team provides compassionate on-the-ground outreach to those suffering from addiction.
Resources and compassionate support are offered to encourage and empower individuals suffering with addictions. Resources include food, health screening, NARCAN, and access to inpatient drug treatment.
The Urban League Division of Public Safety has focused on opioid hot spots for over two years. The team sets up a triage station offering food, clothing, hygiene items, health screenings, NARCAN, rehab transportation and referrals for other social services as requested by residents. This scaled up effort is in response to the recent spike in fentanyl deaths from overdosing.
Urban League staff and volunteers also offer “compassionate support are offered to encourage and empower individuals suffering with addictions.”
A revised University of Missouri-St. Louis Addition Science Team report from August 2023 found that 489 people died from overdose in the city of St. Louis in 2022, an 8% increase from the previous yar.
448 lives were lost to overdose in St. Louis County in 2022, which is an 11% decrease.
The city and county experienced a 2% decrease in overdose deaths, and metro St. Louis
In the city and county combined, overdose deaths have consistently trended up since 2011. They peaked in 2020 at 957—the highest combined total ever recorded—and have declined only slightly since then.
According to the report, Black men remained the demographic group most vulnerable to fatal overdose. The biggest increase in 2022 was among white women.
In St. Louis County, white women were the lone group that experienced an increase in overdose deaths in 2022. Black men and women had the largest decrease in numbers, while white men became the most vulnerable demographic.
Opioids caused 74% of overdose deaths in the city and county. Alarmingly, fentanyl was present in 97% of opioid-involved deaths.
