Wednesday, May 1, 2024
5/1/2024
The overdose data to action project in Harris County, Texas, was initiated in 2019 and met some challenges with the onset of Covid 19 shortly thereafter. However, the program has provided access to data that reflects the mortality and morbidity related to substance use in the jurisdiction and the need for resources within the community to reduce deaths and improve overall health. Substance-involved deaths are the primary cause of accidental, preventable deaths in Harris County. Consistent with national data, Fentanyl and Methamphetamine involved events are driving the fatal and non-fatal overdose counts in Harris County. Since 2019, Fentanyl-involved deaths have increased by 359.8%, and hospital discharges for fentanyl-involved overdoses have increased by more than 240%. Methamphetamine-involved events have also increased during this time - with fatal events rising to 77.9% and non-fatal events to 116.3%. Efforts to engage with community partners and provide evidence-based solutions to residents are essential to combat this increase in substance-involved morbidity and mortality in Harris County. Areas of concentration include linkage to and retention in care for persons who use drugs (PWUD). Activities include education on identifying and preventing opioid overdose in community settings, provision of re-entry transitioning and connection to services, peer support services, addressing vulnerable populations, providing supportive navigation into treatment settings, and overall health and wellness education. Educational sessions tailored for adults and youths will be established to address the increase in fentanyl-involved mortality and morbidity within Harris County. This will include outreach activities, community engagements, and media campaigns. The data collected will consist of factors such as the number of encounters, linkage to community services, retention in treatment and recovery, and high-risk demographic and geographic areas to enhance outreach efforts for those at risk of an overdose-related event and/or their family and friends. Harm reduction efforts will include activities such as connecting with a chemical dependency counselor, referrals to training on administering the opioid reversal medication Naloxone for persons at risk of overdose, and family, friends, and others that may respond in an emergency overdose event. Linkage to physicians prescribing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) can be improved and expanded upon throughout Harris County. Expanding our program will increase access to the safe disposal of paraphernalia in areas known to be at high risk through surveillance activities. This action will reduce stigma and the spread of infectious diseases, including HIV and Hepatitis C. We will provide outreach campaigns to inform community members, prescribers, and providers of the harms associated with substance and polysubstance misuse. Our educational outreach will also discuss the impact of education and increased safety for individuals and the community and the linkage to treatment and recovery services within Harris County. Additionally, peer support services will be vital in facilitating harm reduction efforts by connecting with PWUD to provide hope and the example of lived experience in managing the recovery process. A Peer Services Program will be introduced at Harris County Public Health (HCPH) to strengthen the impact on substance-related morbidity and mortality in Harris County. HCPH will provide peer support services to persons at risk of overdose. Peer navigators will be responsible for managing relationships with community resources shown to have encounters with individuals who have experienced an overdose-related event or are known to use substances. This program will provide hope, encourage recovery behavior, demonstrate success through recovery activities, and link participants to recovery-related resources. The surveillance team at HCPH will analyze the data collected.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
