Key points
The CDC Injury Center prioritizes funding for the prevention of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), overdose, and suicide. This page shows how funds were appropriated for the District of Columbia in FY22.
Overdose prevention funding - District of Columbia
There were 106,699 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2021 (32.4 deaths per 100,000 standard population), a 16% increase from 2020.1
Total overdose prevention funding for the District of Columbia
- District of Columbia State Award: $3,996,694
- Overdose Response Strategy: $74,500*
*average award amount
Examples of how the District of Columbia is working to prevent overdose
Syringe service program
The District of Columbia enhanced its syringe service program to focus on groups that have been historically marginalized. It now includes Us Helping Us, a syringe services provider focused primarily on men who have sex with men. Us Helping Us improved reach to this population through its existing community relationships.
Community harm reduction awareness
Through a series of community meetings in the District of Columbia, organizations increased harm reduction awareness by distributing safer use kits and naloxone to the community. This was particularly important given the spikes in overdoses in DC due to social isolation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and reached individuals who would have otherwise been in isolation.
- Spencer MR, Miniño AM, Warner M. Drug overdose deaths in the United States, 2001–2021. NCHS Data Brief, no 457. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2022. DOI: https://dx.doi. org/10.15620/cdc:122556
- NVSS – Drug Overdose Deaths