District of Columbia Priority Topic Investments
Click on any of the tabs below to learn more about each topic.
District of Columbia Overdose Investment Snapshot
Combatting the current overdose crisis is a priority for the agency. This page provides an overview of the FY21 CDC Injury Center (NCIPC) Overdose investments for the District of Columbia.
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 the District of Columbia there were:
424
overdose deaths
58.1
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 the District of Columbia Is Working to Prevent Overdose
 |
Overdose data dissemination and linkage
Washington, DC, uses syndromic surveillance data from its seven emergency departments to track the drug overdose epidemic, publicly reporting monthly data to the DC opioid work group, the hospital association, and the community. DC also links emergency medical services and hospital data to health care billing and consumption, corrections, and city services data to better identify opioid overdose risk factors and new points of intervention. |
 |
Awareness campaign for residents
Washington, DC, developed an awareness campaign for individuals looking for recovery services for themselves and/or loved ones. Campaign materials featuring the DC Department of Health’s website were placed on city buses and trains. DC residents can learn the stories of individuals who have used recovery services, find a peer recovery specialist, or train to be a peer navigator in the community. |
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.
