The purpose of Riverside Overdose Data to Action (RODA) is to enhance the surveillance of Riverside County overdose morbidity and mortality and to use the data to guide the implementation of prevention efforts to decrease the number of fatal and nonfatal overdoses, decrease illicit opioid and stimulant use, improve health equity among groups disproportionately affected by the overdose crisis and those previously underserved by overdose prevention programs, and increase the adoption of harm reduction strategies and principles.
To decrease the opioid- and stimulant-involved overdose morbidity and mortality in Riverside County, RODA will build data-informed prevention programs in a variety of settings including community, health systems, and public safety. RODA’s strategies and activities will increase access to evidence-based care for substance use disorders, support re-engagement in care and long-term recovery, and ensure access to harm reduction tools such as naloxone and fentanyl test strips.
RODA activities require strong, multi-sectoral partnerships and collaboration with community-based organizations, public safety, health systems, and people with lived experience and incorporate the data to action framework. Activities include the synthesis and analysis of surveillance data: 1. To inform the selection of prevention programs; 2. To focus programs on areas and/or groups with a high risk of overdose; 3. To identify and respond to emerging drug threats; and 4. To improve prevention program implementation. Activities will prioritize the allocation of resources in conversation with partners to maximize impacts on drug overdose and decrease health disparities. RODA will implement activities that are evidence-based or evidence-informed and focus on populations historically underserved and at disproportionate overdose risk based on available evidence and data. RODA will concentrate evaluation efforts on critical prevention programs or key data gaps to inform ongoing efforts to strengthen activities and improve the impact of current prevention programs with the ultimate goal of decreasing overdoses in Riverside County.