Title
Creating a Project Position to Provide Project Coordination for the "Overdose Data to Action" Initiative to Combat Opioid Abuse
Body
The opioid crisis is a public health emergency threatening the wellbeing and lives of individuals who use drugs and impacts communities, first responders, the criminal justice system, child welfare and foster care, and behavioral health systems. In 2018, Dane County experienced 85 opioid-involved deaths, 478 opioid-related hospital visits, and 501 ambulance runs for suspected opioid overdoses.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, established the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) grant to promote strategies and activities that build local capacity to prevent morbidity and mortality associated with opioid overdoses. Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) was awarded an OD2A grant for $191,711 for the period of May 2020 through August 2022.
OD2A will strengthen PHMDC’s ability to collect, analyze, and apply data; enhance linkages to care; build partnerships with public safety and first responders; empower individuals to make safer choices; and support innovative prevention approaches.
PHMDC’s objectives for OD2A include: build and implement a Dane County Overdose Spike Response Plan; increase awareness of the Dane County Behavioral Health Resource Center; increase law enforcement agency collaboration with the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Detection Mapping Application (ODMAP); develop and distribute messaging for those who use illicit drugs about fentanyl in the drug supply, harm reduction strategies, and available treatment and recovery resources; and create an Overdose Response Coalition to translate recommendations from the Overdose Fatality Review Team into action.
PHMDC will provide their expertise as a community convener and in systems change through the project coordination and implementation of OD2A. A newly created 1.0 FTE Public Health Sp...
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