As more communities on the South Coast come to terms with the growing opioid crisis, New Bedford’s officials are turning to nearby towns for help.

During Monday night’s Select Board meeting, board members addressed the letter from the New Bedford City Council regarding the city’s opioid crisis.

New Bedford’s council agreed back in January to draft a letter to community leaders throughout the South Coast, asking for assistance in tackling the issue. The letter asks that towns provide information regarding current treatment options on town properties, future plans to address the crisis, and any inpatient and outpatient services available now or in the future.

The letter also states that the city’s resources are being drained by an influx of residents from surrounding towns using New Bedford’s services.

Town Administrator David Cressman said the town currently has an inpatient facility, Southcoast Behavioral Health, which helps those with addiction. While Southcoast Behavioral Health does provide detox services for patients, they only provide drug-related services to patients who are also dealing with mental health issues.

Cressman also pointed to the Dartmouth Opiate Task Force as another way the town is addressing the drug crisis.

“The town’s staff has stepped up to address this issue,” said Cressman.

The task force is being led by youth advocate Jen Cabral and Director of Health Chris Michaud. The two plan to work with various departments in towns, such as the school department and the police, to better inform the public of the issues surrounding opioid use on the South Coast.

The group has scheduled an open meeting next month at Town Hall to share information.

Board member Frank Gracie suggested that, in the letter to the New Bedford City Council, there be some “community interaction.” One way in which that could happen would be extending the focus of Dartmouth’s opioid task force to include the Greater New Bedford region.

“I think New Bedford is overwhelmed with this opioid problem,” said Select Board member Stanly Mickelson. “We do our part as best as we can. I think everyone has someone in your life who is affected by this.”

Last week, UMass Dartmouth dealt with this issue head-on in the wake of two student overdoses, one of which resulted in the death of a student. Speakers at the substance abuse forum on Feb. 16 said that UMass has plans to develop a peer support network and offer Narcan training, which can reverse the effects of an overdose.

The school also plans to screen the recent HBO documentary “Heroin: Cape Cod, USA.”

The Dartmouth Opioid Task Force has scheduled a meeting for the public on March 9 in room 305 at Town Hall from 6 to 8:15 p.m.