SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — The opioid epidemic is ongoing.

But it’s also competing with the COVID-19 pandemic for the sparse time and resources of county health experts. 

So, Sullivan County is reorganizing its county-wide opioid task force, bringing on mental health experts, family members who have been directly affected by the crisis, social service workers, law enforcement and health care workers. 

Frontline workers, as it were.

The task force will look at prescribing practices, access to medication-assisted treatment, the role of law enforcement, peer recovery and naloxone access.

Public health director Nancy McGraw said that it’s based on Erie County’s task force, which is serving as a model for programs across the country. 

“By reorganizing this,” she said at last Thursday’s executive committee meeting, “it’s much more structured and there will be specific lead individuals who are already involved... it’s people who have expertise in these areas.” 

Deputy public health director Wendy Brown will lead the task force.