National overdose trends indicate the need for a comprehensive, public health approach that encompasses primary prevention of substance use, overdose and mortality prevention, monitoring and surveillance, and access to treatment, recovery and harm reduction services. ASTHO provides capacity building and technical assistance for state and territorial health agencies in these areas to build strong public health leadership for substance use prevention and surveillance, establish effective multidisciplinary partnerships, and support the implementation of policies that are informed by evidence.
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Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Access Legal Map
ASTHO mapped jurisdictional legislation related to medications for opioid use disorder access without prior authorization. The map follows each bill across its lifespan, providing public health leaders with the specific bill text at a given point in time.
Strategic Planning Tools, Resources, and Considerations for Overdose Data to Action-Funded Jurisdictions (PDF)
This resource maps the tools introduced through strategic planning technical assistance in Nebraska onto each of the steps followed during the series.
The Role of Syringe Services Programs in New Mexico’s Opioid Crisis Response
This brief looks at New Mexico's success in leveraging partnerships to reduce substance-related harm and enhance wellness can serve as a model for taking a more holistic approach to harm reduction.
Responding to an Overdose Spike: A Guide for State Health Departments Experiences Stakeholder Mapping Roadmap (PDF)
This guide shares action steps for each phase of the planning and response process, including job action sheets and more.
Health Equity in Overdose Data to Action
Access tailored resources, training, and tools designed to help CDC Overdose Data to Action recipients integrate health equity into overdose prevention strategies and drive meaningful change in their communities.
Trusted Contacts Training Modules
These three on-demand training modules detail what it means to be a state trusted contact for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Opioid Rapid Response Program and provides essential background for state trusted contacts to better prepare for and respond to disruptions in access to opioid prescriptions.
Latest Overdose Prevention Resources
Health Agency Procurement and Contracting Best Practices for Overdose Data to Action Recipients
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Overdose Data to Action: Utilizing Partnerships and Flexibility to Support Policy Change
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Prevention and Response Policies to Reduce Overdoses Involving Synthetic Opioids
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Overdose Prevention Policies Help People Involved with Criminal Justice System
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Overdose Data to Action
ASTHO is a technical assistance and capacity building partner for CDC’s Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) cooperative agreement to address the opioid overdose epidemic. ASTHO supports OD2A recipients’ opioid overdose prevention and surveillance efforts, including initiatives around:
- Overdose morbidity and mortality data.
- Innovative surveillance strategies.
- Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP).
- State and local integration.
- Linkage to care.
- Provider and health systems support.
- Public health/public safety partnership.
- Other innovative prevention strategies.
Opioid Preparedness
ASTHO works closely with CDC’s Opioid Rapid Response Program to enhance state capacity to respond to opioid-related emergencies, including overdose spikes and disruptions in access to opioid prescriptions. ASTHO assists members by conducting opioid preparedness exercises with state health agencies and their partners and developing resources based on identified jurisdictional needs.
Overdose Mortality Data Improvement
ASTHO works with medicolegal death investigators, such as medical examiners and coroners (ME/Cs), to support effective investigations of overdose deaths. ASTHO recognizes that ME/Cs are integral to overdose monitoring and surveillance efforts, as well as public health mortality surveillance more broadly, and seeks to support these systems as part of the broader public health workforce. Key initiatives include efforts to improve drug specificity on death certificates, address the national shortage of forensic pathologists, and the Project ECHO on Overdose Fatality Investigation Techniques.