Oklahoma ACEs and Overdose Prevention Funding

ACEs prevention funding - Oklahoma

ACEs are preventable, potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years). Examples include neglect, experiencing or witnessing violence, or having a family member attempt or die by suicide.

*ACE statistics are reported by U.S. adults and include exposure to eight types of ACEs: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, witnessing intimate partner violence, household substance abuse, household mental illness, parental separation or divorce, and incarcerated household member.

Examples of how Oklahoma is working to prevent ACEs

Surveillance activities

The Oklahoma State Department of Health is adding questions about experiencing ACEs to the Oklahoma YRBS to provide representative state-wide estimates of ACEs for Oklahoma public high school students.

Other Support for ACEs in Oklahoma

Beyond the ACEs appropriation, CDC supports several initiatives, research, and partnerships to build state and tribal surveillance infrastructure and enhance ACEs prevention and mitigation.

In Oklahoma, some of those other initiatives include:

• Overdose Data to Action

Overdose prevention funding - Oklahoma

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 2020.2

*average award amount

Examples of how Oklahoma is working to prevent overdose

Overdose data dashboard development

Oklahoma developed two drug overdose data dashboards to facilitate timely communication of data – one for Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) data and one combining State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) and inpatient hospitalization data. The interactive data dashboards are available for use by state and local drug overdose prevention partners. Oklahoma is exploring transitioning these to public-facing dashboards and adding newly available emergency department discharge data.

First responder resiliency training

Oklahoma identified a need to build resiliency and reduce stigma among first responders to increase effective communication with persons who use substances. Through a partnership with Oklahoma State University's Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Adversity, the Mindful First Responders program was developed to reduce stress and absenteeism, reduce secondary trauma, increase willingness to seek professional help, and increase understanding for others experiencing trauma, addiction, and overdose. The six-week program has been conducted six times across the state.

Expansion of community-level interventions

With Combating Overdose through Community-Level Intervention funding, Oklahoma expanded outreach and services throughout Muskogee, Mayes, and McIntosh counties. Funding supported a peer recovery support specialist to provide intensive care management and facilitated community events for education and training for all population groups. These efforts expanded coalitions and key partnerships to address the opioid and stimulant crisis, substance use disorders, and mental health.