In 2018, almost half of all overdose deaths in Harris County involved opioids, and drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in Harris County, according the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. A comprehensive, collaborative prevention initiative is critical to prevent opioid overdoses in Harris County.
With opioid overdose reaching a state of public health emergency nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has funded select public health departments to prevent opioid overdose, through its Overdose Data to Action cooperative agreement, including Harris County Public Health.
The Harris County Public Health Opioid Overdose Prevention Program, funded by the CDC, aims to prevent opioid overdose through three key strategies:
- Improving data collection and analysis around opioid misuse, abuse, and overdose
- Increasing linkage to treatment for persons living with opioid addiction
- Partnering with agencies and key stakeholders to fund or enhance prevention activities