Overdose Prevention: Tools for State and Local Health Departments

Overdose death in the United States has increased at an alarming rate since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with an increase of 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. To help public health practitioners prevent overdose, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, developed the following resources and tools.

Intentionally Including People with Lived and Living Experience: A Series of Tools and Resources

Ensuring the Inclusion of People with Lived and Living Experience in Health Departments’ Overdose Surveillance and Prevention Efforts: An Overview

Hiring People With Lived and Living Experience Within Local and State Health Departments

Engaging People with Lived and Living Experience in Overdose Data Collection, Interpretation and Dissemination

Meaningfully Partnering With Harm Reduction Organizations and Other Community-based Organizations That Serve People Who Use Drugs

Annotated Resource List

Voices From the Field: Centering Lived and Living Experience in Overdose Prevention (webinar recording)

Harm Reduction Services Resources

Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Health Departments: Harm Reduction Vending Machines

Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Health Departments: Harm Reduction Vending Machines (webinar recording)

Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Health Departments: Fentanyl Test Strips and Other Drug Checking Equipment

Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Health Departments: Fentanyl Test Strips and Other Drug Checking Equipment (webinar recording)

Workforce Development Resources

Establishing Peer Support Services for Overdose Response: A Toolkit for Health Departments

Establishing Peer Support Services for Overdose Response: Strategies from the Field (webinar recording)

Overdose Response and Linkage to Care: A Roadmap for Health Departments

Linkage to Care to Prevent Overdose: Strategies from the Field (webinar recording)

Establishing Culturally Centered Peer Support Services (webinar recording)

The publications were supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $248,980 with 100% funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS or the U.S. government.