Alaska Priority Topic Investments
Updated February 9, 2023
Click on any of the tabs below to learn more about each topic.
Alaska Overdose Investment Snapshot
Combatting the current overdose crisis is a priority for the agency. This page provides an overview of the FY21CDC Injury Center (NCIPC) overdose investments for the state of Alaska.
There were 91,799 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2020 (28.3 deaths per 100,000 standard population), a stark 30% increase from 2019. Approximately 75% of drug overdose deaths in 2020 involved an opioid, with synthetic opioids (e.g., illicitly manufactured fentanyls) accounting for more than 80% of all opioid-involved deaths. Drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids increased by 55% and deaths involving psychostimulants (e.g., methamphetamine) increased by 47% from 2019 to 2020. Drug overdose deaths involving cocaine also increased by 22%.
In 2020 in Alaska there were:
160
overdose deaths
22
overdose deaths per 100,000 people (age-adjusted)
Source: NVSS – Drug Overdose Deaths
|
Overdose Data to Action (OD2A)
Public Health and Public Safety
*average award amount |
Examples of How Alaska Is Working to Prevent Overdose
 |
Identifying overdose clusters
Alaska used emergency department data collected as a part of state surveillance activities to identify opioid overdose clusters. Public health surveillance experts used these data to collaborate with public safety staff to send alerts to the public. |
 |
Rx Awareness campaign
Alaska promoted the Rx Awareness campaign’s American Indian/Alaskan Native public service announcements statewide through radio, tv, and digital placements. Intentional media placements were purchased to reach rural Alaskan communities. |
CDC Overdose Prevention Strategies
CDC’s Injury Center plays a critical role in addressing the drug overdose epidemic by driving progress in the five strategic priorities that guide CDC’s response framework for preventing overdoses.
