Overdose Prevention and Substance Use Program

Overdose Prevention and Substance Use Program

Oneida County Health Department’s (OCHD) overdose prevention, overdose and drug surveillance, and substance use activities are supported by the four programs described below. These activities are aimed at implementing public health approaches to address the opioid epidemic as well as other drug-related issues in the community. Program projects primarily support the Oneida County Opioid Task Force (OTF), a collaborative multi-agency and multi-sector partnership working together to reduce overdose deaths in the community that is chaired by the County Executive, Sheriff and District Attorney.

Programs:

1. Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) Grant: OCHD is one of 24 NYS local health departments to receive opioid crisis funding to support crisis activities to address the high burden of opioid overdoses in the County. The OD2A grant focuses on prevention, building local capacity for local prevention and response efforts, establishing linkages to care, provider and health system support, partnering with public safety and empowering individuals.
2. Partnerships to Support Data-Driven Responses to Emerging Drug Threats Grant: As a result of its collaborative efforts in implementing the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP) and formation of the OTF’s Overdose Response Team, OCHD was successful in its application for a grant award from the Bureau of Justice Assistance and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the amount of $600,000 for 2 years. The grant aims to prevent/reduce overdose deaths, advance shared understanding of patterns and characteristics of problem drug use, and foster collaborations between public health and public safety.
3. Overdose Prevention Strategies at the Local Level (IOPSLL) Grant: OCHD is one of 13 U.S. public health departments selected to receive an award of $500,000 to implement public health strategies to address community challenges related to drug overdoses. The IOPSLL grant was awarded by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Center for Injury Control and Prevention. The grant supports Street Engagement Team outreach, anti-stigma campaign, harm-reduction services, provider education and training and expanding services to support low-barrier, same day access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).
4. Opioid Overdose Prevention Program (OOPP): The Health Department is a NYS registered Opioid Overdose Prevention Program trains community members on the administration of nasal naloxone (Narcan©), a medication which rapidly reverses an opioid overdose, and distributes free naloxone kits to individuals, businesses and organizations.
   
   The program provides mail-in Narcan options for residents, “Save A Life”
   Overdose Rescue Kits to businesses and organizations and as well as Narcan Emergency
   Cabinets.