Linkage to Care to Prevent Overdose: Strategies from the Field

Overdose death in the United States has increased at an alarming rate since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with an increase of nearly 30% in 2020 compared to 2019. Despite rising rates of overdose, substance use-related harms are preventable. Evidence-based practices exist across a continuum of care for people at risk of overdose; however, people at risk of overdose often face significant challenges accessing treatment and navigating systems of care. Local and state health departments are uniquely well-suited to link people at risk of overdose to services and care to prevent overdose and support long-term recovery.

To support linkage to care efforts for people at risk of overdose, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed Overdose Response and Linkage to Care: A Roadmap for Health Departments, a technical assistance tool informed by real-world experience. Attendees of this webinar will hear directly from health department staff implementing a variety of these linkage to care strategies to prevent overdose. These strategies can be adapted and replicated to meet the needs of communities across the country.