Orange County Welcomes Opioid Response Program Coordinator By: Ashley Jacobs, Management Analyst, Orange County Administration
In early 2025, staff began implementing the Epidemic Intelligence Council (EpIC) Opioid Abatement Funding Recommendations Roadmap as approved by the Orange County Board of Supervisors at their December 3, 2024, meeting. The roadmap of recommendations was drafted following an asset mapping exercise in which the EpIC membership evaluated current assets, gaps, and barriers to opioid abatement strategies in Orange County, specifically. The priority strategy identified in the roadmap, detailed the need for the immediate recruitment of an Opioid Response Program Coordinator. On March 6, the County welcomed Dr. Laura Mahan to the newly-created role.
The cover of the EpIC Roadmap.
Dr. Laura Mahan brings a unique and innovative approach to her work, blending creative arts with participatory action research to advance transformative justice in communities affected by systemic harm. Her work reimagines traditional models of community building, education, and research with a focus on fostering healing and collective growth. Dr. Mahan has extensive experience collaborating with local organizations on initiatives that address pressing social issues by centering those most directly impacted and their needs. In her role as the Opioid Response Program Coordinator, she is dedicated to supporting community-driven efforts that address the challenges of the opioid epidemic and strengthen already existing community resources with the goal of creating sustainable, long-term solutions that promote well-being across the community Dr. Mahan will begin her opioid abatement work by implementing the following near-term priorities: Conduct a survey to identify the OAA spending priorities of community members. Work with EMS and the Sheriff’s Office to enhance the utilization of the mobile overdose outreach team to make follow-up contacts. Improve access to reliable transportation for the community to utilize for necessary appointments related to court, treatment, and recovery. Ensure training for school staff/public officials/first responders, and community members on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Implement a county-wide media/education campaign that will target different generations and focus on stigma, prevention, treatment, and recovery. All funds used to carry out the identified strategies are allocated from disbursements to Orange County through the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority. These funds are available as a result of settlement agreements with prescription opioid manufacturers and companies in the prescription opioid distribution network, which began being negotiated and were finalized in 2020-2021. If you would like more information on the work of EpIC or the County’s local opioid abatement funding, please contact Dr. Laura Mahan, Opioid Response Program Coordinator, at lmahan@orangecountyva.gov or visit the Epidemic Intelligence Council (EpIC) webpages on the Orange County website.
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