Purpose
Below you will find a collection of overdose prevention resources for public health and public safety professionals.
The Overdose Response Strategy
The Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) conducts an annual initiative-wide cornerstone project. These projects answer common questions or address shared informational needs that affect the ORS region as a whole. These projects focus on a different priority topic each year and build upon evidence-based practices to reduce overdose.
Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Jails and Prisons
The Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorder in Jails and Prisons: A Planning and Implementation Toolkit includes real-world guidance, lessons learned, and concrete "how to" steps for implementing MAT in criminal justice settings. It was developed through a partnership between CDC, The National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Vital Strategies, and faculty from Johns Hopkins University.
Overdose Fatality Review
The Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Practitioner's Guide for Implementation is a nationally recognized model being used by a growing number of communities to strengthen their community-based responses to the opioid overdose epidemic. This toolkit is a companion document to the Public Health and Safety Team (PHAST) Toolkit and helps communities plan, implement, and evaluate OFRs. It is designed for multiple audiences including public health, public safety, criminal justice, drug treatment, and social services.
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Corrections and Community Settings
Expanding Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Corrections and Community Settings: A Roadmap for States to Reduce Opioid Use Disorder for People in the Justice System highlights existing state efforts and serves as a policy development tool for governors and other state officials. The resource helps leaders to bolster existing efforts to address opioid use disorder among people involved in the justice system by expanding access to evidence-based medications. The roadmap was created through a partnership between CDC and the National Governors Association (NGA).
Secondary Prevention Resource Hub
The National Council is committed to supporting secondary prevention practices and organizations — through funding, technical assistance, networking opportunities, sharing lessons learned from the field and more. The National Council works collaboratively with multidisciplinary stakeholders to continually develop national resources to increase the adoption of evidence-based practices and strategies to reduce the risk of overdose and harm for people who use drugs and people with substance use disorder.
Supporting Incarcerated People's Recovery
Individuals with substance use disorder released from incarceration are at an extremely high risk of experiencing overdose, specifically within the first days and weeks following release, with drug overdose being the leading cause of death following release from incarceration. As disparities grow, ongoing support of interventions to reduce overdose-related morbidity and mortality is necessary. It is particularly important to focus on populations that have been disproportionately impacted, such as people who use drugs who have been involved with the criminal justice system.