Pennsylvania Funding Priorities

Overdose prevention funding - Pennsylvania

There were 107,968 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2022 (34.6 deaths per 100,000 standard population), a 1.2% increase from 2021.1

• There were 5,196 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in 20222
• There were 40.9 overdose deaths per 100,000 people (age-adjusted) in Pennsylvania in 20222

Overdose prevention programs

• Overdose Data to Action in States
  • Pennsylvania Department of Health: $5,310,740
• Overdose Data to Action: LOCAL
  • Philadelphia Department of Public Health: $3,742,500
  • Allegheny County Health Department: $2,997,558
  • Montgomery County Office of Public Health: $889,941
• Public Health and Public Safety
  • Savage Sisters Recovery, Inc. Community Innovation Award: $179,100
  • Overdose Response Strategy: $87,600*
  • Prevention Point Philadelphia Evidence-Building Award: $50,000
• Research
  • University of Pennsylvania: $362,491

*average award amount

Examples of how Pennsylvania is working to prevent overdose

Stigma reduction among first responders

The Pennsylvania First Responder Addiction Connection to Treatment Program, facilitated by St. Joseph's University, has trained nearly 5,000 public safety professionals since September 2020. The training focuses on decreasing the stigma of substance use disorder and providing public safety professionals with tools to respond effectively to overdose. Pre- and post-training evaluations revealed a significant reduction in stigma attitude among participants.

Improved patient navigation to treatment

The Pennsylvania Substance Use Navigation Program offers free technical assistance, consultation, and support to emergency departments from opioid medical consultant clinicians. Clinicians have specialized opioid use disorder treatment knowledge that can better optimize care for patients. The program facilitated an enhanced partnership between the hospital and the County Drug and Alcohol Office, strengthening the coordination and linkage to care for patients with opioid use disorder.

Suicide prevention funding - Pennsylvania

• There were 1,955 suicide deaths in Pennsylvania in 2022
• There were 14.2 suicide deaths per 100,000 people (age-adjusted) in Pennsylvania in 2022

Suicide prevention programs

• Comprehensive Suicide Prevention
  • University of Pittsburgh: $700,000

Pennsylvania's suicide prevention priorities

Pennsylvania is preventing suicide with CDC Injury Center funding by:A

• Strengthening access and delivery of suicide care
• Creating protective environments
• Promoting connectedness
• Identifying and supporting people at risk

Some groups have higher rates of suicide than others. To address disparities, Pennsylvania is focusing on:

• Veterans

Examples of how Pennsylvania is working to prevent suicide

ED provider training

The University of Pittsburgh is training emergency department (ED) providers on conducting brief interventions using motivational interviewing principles; examples of evidence-based practices that will be used include safety planning, follow-up phone calls, and care coordination services.

Raising mental health parity law awareness

The University of Pittsburgh is raising awareness and providing education on existing mental health parity laws to northwest Pennsylvania health care providers and community members. These laws ensure that health insurance coverage for mental-health related visits is on par with coverage for physical health-related visits.