UTHealth Houston’s Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research oversees several initiatives to address substance use disorder and behavioral emergencies across Texas. The Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network (ICON) is one such initiative. ICON is funded by the Texas Targeted Opioid Response, or TTOR (a division of Texas Health and Human Services), to address substance use disorder (SUD) in several target regions.
ICON’s overarching goal is to develop and implement coordinated (or recovery-oriented) systems of care. These care systems support treatment, recovery, overdose prevention and education, and patient navigation to reduce the burden of SUD and OUD. Texas ICON focuses on small urban areas and rural communities to help improve their lack of recovery infrastructure. ICON currently services Bastrop, Beaumont, Cleveland, Galveston, and San Marcos and plans to expand to additional communities during 2024 and 2025.
ICON employs a management team out of UTHealth Houston that provides administrative and strategic support. Local Community Health Liaisons act as patient navigators, community partnership facilitators, educators, and UTHealth representatives in their communities. ICON is uniquely positioned within UTHealth Houston, a premier health sciences and research university.
Total individuals served: 1,758
Any service by region:
Referrals to treatment or services: 65
Number of individuals educated: 1,695
Units of naloxone distributed: 431
*The above figures are from the period 9/1/2022 through 3/31/2024.
Meredith O’Neal started with UTHealth in March 2019 and is a Program Manager at the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research. She is the program lead for the Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network (ICON) and the Heroes Helpline. Meredith has a Master’s in Cultural/Medical Anthropology (2019) and a forthcoming Master’s in Business Administration (August 2024). She has experience designing and implementing sociocultural and public health research and delivering community-centered programming for underserved populations, particularly for those experiencing substance use disorder and mental health concerns.
Brandie started with UTHealth in February 2023 and is a Community Health Liaison at the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research. She is responsible for our efforts in Bastrop County/Bastrop, Texas, as part of the Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network (ICON). Brandie has lived experience with substance use disorder and mental health as a caregiver to multiple family members living with addiction. She has worked in residential treatment, medical detoxification, and outpatient treatment settings. She has also worked as a CPS liaison and family crisis advocate, teaching nurturing parenting classes. Brandie hopes to become a licensed chemical dependency counselor and eventually obtain a degree in psychology. To Brandie, helping others help themselves is the greatest feeling ever.
Mary started with UTHealth in July 2023 and is a Community Health Liaison at the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research. She is responsible for our efforts in Jefferson County/Beaumont, Texas, as part of the Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network (ICON). Mary is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor with clinical experience in MAT/MOUD, drug intervention programs, and residential and outpatient treatment. She enjoys connecting people to services and organizations that help them enhance their lives and recover from addiction.
Katelyn started with UTHealth in October 2023 and is a Community Health Liaison at the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research. She is responsible for our efforts in Hays County/San Marcos as part of the Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network (ICON). Katelyn is a first-generation college graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree in public health and is pursuing a master’s in social work. She is passionate about promoting well-being and fostering healthy communities. Katelyn is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Briana started with UTHealth in December 2023 and is a Community Health Liaison at the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research. She is responsible for our efforts in Liberty County/Cleveland, Texas, as part of the Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network (ICON). Briana has a background in education and is pursuing a degree in holistic health. She enjoys connecting people with substance use disorder to evidence-based interventions and recovery supports. Briana is bilingual in English and Spanish.