Inside Connecticut’s Response to a Rapidly Escalating Overdose Crisis
Over Memorial Day weekend 2025, Connecticut public health and safety partners launched a rapid, coordinated response to a spike in overdoses in New Haven County. In late May to early June 2025, the Connecticut Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) team identified a surge in overdose activity through the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP) and consequently, […]
West Virginia PHA Advances Predictive Modeling to Strengthen Overdose Prevention Statewide
Predictive modeling has emerged as one of West Virginia’s most effective strategies for improving overdose prevention. From January 2022 through December 2024, the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP), supported by the Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) and the West Virginia Public Health Analyst (PHA), helped develop and expand a data-driven model that informs […]
Nevada ORS Team Facilitates Partnership for Naloxone Distribution
After meeting the End Overdose CEO, Theo Krzywicki, at the 2024 Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) conference in Dallas, the Nevada ORS team recognized an opportunity to amplify local overdose prevention efforts by leveraging the organization’s proven model of training and naloxone distribution at large-scale events. End Overdose is a nonprofit organization that works to end […]
U.S. Virgin Islands ORS Team Collaborates in the Launch of the USVI Prescription Drug Drop Box
The U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA Prevention Initiative, in collaboration with PR-USVI HIDTA, the Virgin Islands Police Department, the Virgin Islands Department of Health, the Overdose Response Strategy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Postal Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has successfully installed permanent prescription drug drop boxes at five […]
Building Trust and Saving Lives: Naloxone Distribution and Tribal Community Collaboration in Arizona and Montana
In Arizona and Montana, the Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) is helping strengthen overdose prevention efforts in tribal communities through long-standing partnerships and community-led collaboration. Recent work by the Arizona and Montana ORS teams illustrates how sustained engagement, cultural respect and shared goals are expanding access to naloxone, enhancing data capacity and supporting tribal leadership in […]
Illinois ORS Team Hosts the First Illinois Prevention Summit
In November 2024, the Illinois Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) team, in partnership with the Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), hosted the first-ever Illinois Prevention Summit. The event brought together 135 public safety, public health and prevention professionals from across the state.
Arizona Public Health / Public Safety Initiative – “STOP-IT Campaign”
The School Training Overdose Preparedness and Intelligence Taskforce (STOP-IT), sponsored by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), is working to standardize opioid overdose prevention and response in Arizona schools. Without standard policies in place, many schools either lack access to naloxone or follow inconsistent guidelines for its storage, administration and training. According to the Arizona […]
Collaboration Improves Data Quality and Access to the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP) in South Dakota
The South Dakota Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) team has made significant progress in expanding access to the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP) and improving data quality through strong collaboration at local and state levels. Before 2022, ODMAP participation in South Dakota was limited to just three local agencies and two state agencies. Today, 61 […]
Supporting Rural Communities: New York ORS Team Assists in Developing an Overdose Fatality Review
Clinton County, a rural community in New York State, facilitated the implementation of an Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) to strengthen its overdose prevention efforts. OFRs are invaluable tools to identify systemic gaps, foster collaboration among partners and develop actionable strategies to prevent future overdoses. However, in a close-knit community with a relatively low number of […]
Leveraging Collaboration to Enhance Naloxone Training and Distribution
ORS teams play an important role in fostering collaboration among partners. The California (Los Angeles/Riverside) Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) team exemplifies this role by actively listening to the needs of different programs and organizations and identifying partnership opportunities. By connecting resources and organizations, the California (Los Angeles/Riverside) ORS team has consistently helped avoid duplicating efforts […]