Pierce County, WA

Pierce County Human Services Department

WAshington

Suburban & Rural | Population: 928,696

Pierce County, Washington, faces a severe opioid crisis that has escalated over recent years. From January 2016 to June 2023, opioid-related deaths in Pierce County surged by 220%, while drug overdose fatalities increased by 174%. Pierce County spends over 70% of its general fund revenue on criminal justice, and there is a recognized need to invest in evidence-based programs that reduce jail populations and address addiction effectively. Currently, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is concentrated within Tacoma and two other urban centers, leaving vast areas underserved. Without targeted intervention, Pierce County faces escalating loss of life and worsening disparities in healthcare access. 

Key COSSUP Initiatives

evidence-based treatment

Provide jail-based treatment for mental health and substance use, including case management, medication management, & life-skills training. 

peer recovery support services

Expand and integrate peer recovery specialists with lived experience into the Pierce County jail.

diversion & deflection

Expand diversion programs and Mobile Community Intervention Response Teams (MCIRT) to connect individuals to services before or instead of arrest.

evidence-based prevention

Provide prevention services to youth, families, and schools to reduce criminal justice involvement and substance use risk factors.

overdose prevention

Distribute overdose prevention kits to mitigate risks associated with drug use.

Anticipated Benefits of Project

• Increased public safety

  This project aims to increase public safety as individuals are diverted into recovery pathways.

• Improved reentry outcomes

  This project aims to improve the reentry process and therefore reduce recidivism by addressing barriers to treatment, including housing, employment, and transportation. 

• Increased treatment compliance

  With the support of peer recovery specialists and dual-diagnosis treatment services, this project aims to increase treatment compliance and effectiveness. 

Collaborative Partners

• Pierce County Human Services Department

• Pierce County Sheriff’s Office

• Pierce County Superior Court

• Pierce County Alliance

• Tacoma-Pierce County Opioid Task Force

• Carelon Behavioral Health

• Other community providers

Project Director

Sarah Appling, Program Specialist
Pierce County Human Services Department
sarah.appling@piercecountywa.gov
253-797-0410

This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA23GK02258COAP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.