Overdose Data to Action: Impact of Funded Programs
Funding state, territorial, county, and city health departments is an essential part of CDC’s work. CDC-funded programs have led to improvements in building state and local capacity to prevent drug overdose and related harms. Jurisdictions that received OD2A funding from 2019-2023 reported many significant achievements:
Data Dashboards and Naloxone in Arizona
Arizona redesigned its opioid data dashboards to better identify areas that needed additional naloxone distribution and support. This tool improved outreach and education in rural, underserved communities about the importance of becoming a naloxone distributor. It also helped staff expedite naloxone shipments by partnering with new naloxone distribution agencies.
Overdose Education in Connecticut Correctional Facilities
Connecticut increased overdose and naloxone education in jails. Every inmate who is brought into custody receives overdose education during orientation. Additionally, Connecticut implemented an initiative to reach the families of inmates when screening them to be sponsors. Connecticut added three correctional facilities that offer medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), totaling nine facilities in the state, increasing the number of inmates treated in the MOUD program by 120%.
Spike Alert and Response in Illinois
Chicago converted data from their opioid overdose alert system into an actionable response plan, which has advanced outreach efforts in persistent overdose hotspots. As a result, there are now teams and processes in place to respond to overdose spikes with naloxone, education, and linkages to additional resources via outreach events.
FindHelpNowKY Spreads beyond Kentucky
Kentucky’s FindHelpNowKY.org locator website helps individuals find a substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facility in near-real-time. The original website was expanded to share resources like data dashboards and standard processes for maintaining complete and accurate records of SUD facilities currently accepting new patients with neighbors through a multi-agency partnership. Tennessee launched FindHelpNowTN.org in early 2023.
Expanding Drug Checking to Detect Emerging Trends in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Drug Supply Data Stream was developed and deployed to learn more about the local illicit drug supply to better inform public health and public safety responses. It has developed into a multi-state network and platform and has been critical in understanding and communicating trends in the illicit drug supply.
