Provides expertise in infectious disease surveillance and outbreak investigation, statistical analyses, and state and local health department operations and serves as primary liaison with state and local public health officials. We are assessing prevention and treatment resources for opioid users in western NC and identifying ways to improve capacity over time by evaluating the gender differences of addiction with injection drugs. This includes training health care providers to provide hepatitis C virus care and other services to people who inject opioids; employing bridge counselors to link people who use opioids to services across different settings; and establishing syringe service programs to reduce opioid-related morbidity and mortality.