White House Unveils Data Dashboard to Track Non-Fatal Opioid Overdoses and Support Prevention Efforts
On December 8th, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a new data dashboard that tracks non-fatal opioid overdoses across the country. The Nonfatal Opioid Overdose Dashboard includes data from electronic patient care records completed by first responders and allows users to compare jurisdiction and county level data to national averages for population rate of nonfatal opioid overdose in a community, average number of naloxone administrations per patient, average Emergency Medical Services time in transit to reach an overdose patient, and the percent of nonfatal opioid overdose patients who are not transported to a medical facility for further treatment. Future updates to the Dashboard will include incorporating surveillance of nonfatal overdoses involving all drugs, directional change at the jurisdictional level, impact according to major demographic categories, patient outcomes, and clinical measures. In a press release, ONDCP noted that the Dashboard advances a key goal of the Biden Administration’s National Drug Control Strategy that called for developing and strengthening the nation’s data systems to better understand and respond to the opioid overdose epidemic
Articles & Resources
The White House – Biden-Harris Administration Launches First-of-its-Kind National Data Dashboard for Non-Fatal Overdoses
Opioid Overdose Response Bill Passes Both Chambers, Moves to the President’s Desk
On December 6th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act, which will provide resources to rural communities to support community-based efforts that address the challenges of the opioid epidemic. Senators Jon Ossoff and Chuck Grassley introduced the bill and it passed the Senate last December. The bill will enhance the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Rural Responses to the Opioid Epidemic Initiative by ensuring that funding for the program, which is provided through DOJ’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program, continues. The bill will also enable grants for community response pilot programs in rural areas that would help identify gaps in services in the criminal justice system and provide support for local governments and organizations in rural communities that provide substance use disorder services. In a press release, Senator Grassley said, “Today’s passage of the Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act is a critical step forward in our ongoing effort to curb the opioid crisis. Our bill will help communities in Iowa and across the country prevent and handle any surge in opioid overdoses. I urge President Biden to sign this bipartisan legislation into law quickly to help prevent cases of opioid overdose and addiction.”
Articles & Resources
Senator Jon Ossoff – BREAKING: Sen. Ossoff’s Bipartisan Bill to Combat Opioid Epidemic Passes House, Heads to President’s Desk
What We Read Last Week
Several articles were published last week pertaining to the opioid epidemic, covering a variety of different components of the topic. Links to relevant articles are provided below.
Big Think – New fentanyl vaccine could help avoid relapses and overdoses
Emergent – Emergent BioSolutions Announces U.S. FDA Acceptance and Priority Review of Supplemental New Drug Application for Over-the-Counter NARCAN® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray
Fox 5 – UC San Diego doctor launches fentanyl overdose rescue app
JAMA – US Trends in Drug Overdose Mortality Among Pregnant and Postpartum Persons, 2017-2020
Marketplace – Prescription drugs are effective treatments for opioid addiction. Expanding access won’t be easy.
Rand Corporation – Buprenorphine Use Remained Stable During First Year of Pandemic, but New Prescriptions Dropped During Period
Record Eagle – Opioid Crisis: Reducing harm, one vending machine at a time
Representative Barry Moore – Rep. Barry Moore leads letter to President Biden demanding action to stop fentanyl crisis
Salon – Parents, You Need Narcan
Science Alert – This Vending Machine in Ohio Has The Power to Save Lives. Here’s How
Senator Rob Portman – Portman, Shaheen Applaud Inclusion of FENTANYL Results Act in FY 2023 Defense Bill
STAT – Congress has its sights set too low on addiction, advocates charge
Substance Use and Misuse – The Association of Opioid Misuse and Suicidality among People with Disabilities
This Week’s Calendar
In the week ahead, there are no relevant events or hearings noticed at this time. In the event that there are any changes to the schedule for this week, we will make additional information available.
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