The unintentional and undetermined drug overdose deaths in Texas have increased more than 75% during the past five years from 2,675 deaths in 2017 to 4,688 deaths in 2021. In 2021, the drug overdose death rate was 15.8 deaths per 100,000 residents which is almost double the 2017 rate of 9.4 deaths per 100,000 residents. Texas continues to see increases not only in opioid-involved overdose deaths, but also stimulant-involved overdose deaths. The Texas Overdose Data to Action (TODA) Program will use data from the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Trauma Registry, Texas Syndromic Surveillance (TxS2), Texas Health Care Information Collection (THCIC) hospital discharge/ billing data, Center for Health Statistics (CHS) mortality data, and medical examiner, justice of the peace, and toxicology reports to create a comprehensive fatal and nonfatal overdose surveillance system. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) can use this comprehensive surveillance system to track nonfatal and fatal overdoses, identify emerging drug threats across Texas, and develop targeted prevention activities. TODA will use collaborations with the Texas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), the DSHS EMS Systems program, Regional Advisory Councils (RACs), the Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC), and the Texas Health and Human Service Commission (HHSC) substance use services area(s) to strengthen and disseminate prevention activities. These activities include educating clinicians about prescribing practices and increasing evidence-based pain management practices awareness, and improving knowledge, attitudes, and capacity among EMS professionals to prevent and respond to overdoses. In addition, TODA will collaborate with existing programs to link individuals in communities at a disproportionate risk for overdose to services and improve access to resources and treatment options.
DSHS is applying for strategy 4, Optional and Competitive Surveillance Strategy – Biosurveillance.
