Wednesday, April 2, 2025
4/2/2025
Overdose Data to Action in States - The goal of South Dakota Department of Health (SD DOH) Overdose Data to Action in States (OD2A-S) is to support the tracking and prevention of nonfatal and fatal overdoses while also identifying emerging drug threats. Overdose deaths in SD increased by 41% from 2017 to 2021. There were 104 overdose-related deaths in 2021, which was the highest count ever reported in the state. Opioids and methamphetamine were the most common drugs listed as the cause of death, with 43 opioid-related deaths and 52 methamphetamine-related deaths in 2021. Methamphetamine-related deaths increased 136% from 2017 to 2021 and opioid-related deaths increased 23% in the same timeframe. In addition, fentanyl-related deaths have also increased in SD, increasing 142% from 2017 to 2021. SD DOH is seeking funding for the required strategies only. By the end of the project period the SD DOH will decrease the rates of opioid morbidity, mortality, and associated harms. This will be accomplished by achieving the following project outcomes: • Decreased drug overdose death rate, including prescription opioid and illicit opioid overdose death rates • Decreased rate of opioid misuse and opioid use disorder • Increased provision of evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder • Decreased rate of emergency department (ED) visits due to misuse or opioid use disorder Specific strategies, intended to address both surveillance and prevention, are intended by the SD DOH to accomplish the goals of this project. Surveillance infrastructure will advance with the continuing support of the Syndromic Surveillance Epidemiologist. The Syndromic Surveillance Epidemiologist will analyze, submit, review and approve incoming data, as well as engage in analyzing and submitting the annual inpatient and ED visit discharge data. This data is received from all hospitals within South Dakota. Furthermore, SD DOH will collect and abstract drug overdose death data using the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS). The SD DOH will continue to collect and abstract data through additional collaborations with healthcare facilities, medical examiners/coroners, and law enforcement to collect quality and more timely data. All of which will inform prevention strategies at the national, state, regional and local level. The SD Public Health Laboratory (SDPHL) is poised to offer more comprehensive toxicology testing services with the upcoming roll-out of expanded opioid testing for fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. The prevention component offers the SD DOH the ability to contract with the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO), providing educational opportunities to clinicians statewide on best practices with opioid prescribing for acute, subacute and chronic pain. This, in turn, will help the SD DOH develop system-based clinical capacity to screen, diagnose and support informed longitudinal support for OUD and StUD. The training and use of community-based navigators will increase education and connection for providers and community members, through a variety of tools and access components. Community Health Workers are an emerging profession in South Dakota growing from 85 Community Health Representatives (only in tribal communities) in 2018 to nearly 200 certificate level CHW/CHRs in 2022. SD will also work to expand the services the CHWs provide, including opioid education, harm reduction and referral to resources. The SD DOH, in partnership with SD DSS, will continue to lead the Statewide Prescription Opioid Abuse Advisory Committee. We will also collaborate to improve data sharing, availability and use at the intersection of public health and public safety. Increasing awareness of opioid misuse and abuse will be accomplished through mass media communications utilizing the CDC-provided media resources and SD-specific resources developed by SD DOH and SD DSS.
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).