What to know
- ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø’s sustained and strategic investments in overdose prevention have saved countless lives, connected individuals to essential care, and laid the foundation for a healthier, more resilient America.
- ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's investments help reduce preventable deaths and demonstrate the real, measurable impact of public health’s long-term commitment to prevention and recovery.
ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø’s expanding role in preventing overdose
For more than a decade, ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø has led a coordinated response to the overdose crisis that adapts public health strategies to address shifting drug trends and support communities across the country. What began as a small state- and local-based initiative grew into a comprehensive national response. From expanding state and local capacity to tracking emerging threats, ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø continues to lead with evidence-based prevention, surveillance, and response work to reduce drug overdoses and save lives.
Strategic priorities lead to real world impact
Below are some examples of Overdose Data to Action recipients' activities, which align with ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's five overdose prevention strategies. These examples represent only a fraction of the lifesaving prevention and surveillance activities that ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø supports with experts, technical assistance, and funding. Examples from other ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø-supported drug overdose prevention programs are also included to demonstrate the depth and breadth of ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's response.
Monitor, analyze, and communicate trends
Mississippi: Mississippi adopted a new data platform that enables communities across the state to collaboratively respond to drug overdose hotspots that previously would not have received a rapid response. The deidentified, population-based database sends tailored public health alerts to people in drug overdose hotspots in real time.
- OD2A Program Staff, Mississippi State Department of Health
Washington, D.C.: D.C. identified xylazine in approximately 20% of analyzed drug samples in 2024. This finding led to immediate data-to-action measures, including collaboration with District agencies to inform community-based organizations and healthcare providers about the risks of xylazine and how to prevent overdoses.
Build state, tribal, local, and territorial capacity
Michigan: Michigan distributed over 19,000 naloxone cartons to 15 vending machines in jails and community settings. Eight vending machines were placed in local jails and seven were placed in locations identified as having high potential to prevent overdose — libraries, community organizations, health department offices, and local transit centers. The successful implementation led to significant interest from community organizations to further expand access to naloxone vending machines in Michigan.
Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Department of Public Health employed a “no wrong door” approach to support linking individuals in need of services regardless of where they entered care. From 2019 - 2023, they linked more than 4,000 patients from emergency department settings and more than 2,200 from community settings to essential health programs. During this same time period, the percentage of people being referred to substance use disorder treatment and care in non-hospital settings increased from 40% in 2019 to 63% in 2023.
Support providers, health systems, payors, and employers
New York: The program established a robust network of recovery providers spanning over 150 clinics statewide. Network clinicians provide medications for opioid use disorder and connect patients to a variety of resources such as substance use treatment, peer support, counseling, access to naloxone, and mental health care.
Massachusetts: The pharmacist-led technical assistance program, End Mass Overdose Health, expanded from one men-only substance use disorder treatment facility to 21 facilities, including programs serving pregnant and postpartum women, young people, and people who may be actively using substances and/or have a history of suicide attempts.
Partner with public safety and community organizations
Nevada: The Southern Nevada Health District used its existing partnership with local Las Vegas area law enforcement to train more than 1,500 police officers in pre-arrest diversion. These trainings were a critical part of the jurisdiction’s approach to addressing overdose spikes in the community without further criminalizing people who use drugs. From 2021 - 2023, law enforcement successfully diverted 503 individuals to services with a 10% recidivism rate.
Pennsylvania: Allegheny County Health Department worked with two community partners to distribute 3,700 kits (7,400 doses) of naloxone in Pittsburgh communities identified as high-risk through surveillance data for overdose in one year. Allegheny County reported more than 718 overdose reversals from naloxone use. Their linkage to care efforts for individuals experiencing homelessness helped to connect 355 people to support services over the course of the same year.
Texas: Through a partnership with the program, Houston conducted 149 trainings on fentanyl awareness and naloxone administration in 80 public school districts, reaching 1,865 school staff and 4,100 middle and high school students across 25 counties.
Raise public awareness and reduce stigma
Vermont: Statewide multi-channel substance use and overdose prevention campaigns produced over 4.6 million clicks, views, and engagements in Vermont in 2022. The campaigns included:
- , which provides information on how to recognize and respond to an overdose.
- , which raises awareness among health care providers and provides resources about substance use during pregnancy.
- ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's RxAwareness campaign, which addresses stigma and recovery through testimonials of real people whose lives were impacted by prescription opioids.
Alabama: The Drug Free Communities of Dallas County coalition addresses youth substance use in the Selma community by delivering a message of hope through media and strategic communication. Funded by the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, the coalition partners with local media outlets to run ads, share local drug use data, and promote new projects. To highlight successes, discuss challenges, and encourage solutions to local community concerns, they host two radio shows on a local FM station, The Hope Show and The Junior Hope Show.