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Overdose Data to Action

Working to reach those at the highest risk of overdose by closing the gaps in access to care.

Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) is a 5-year cooperative agreement that helps local jurisdictions reduce the opioid burden. The Mecklenburg County Public Health Department’s OD2A program is working to build partnerships across the community focused on: 

  • Reaching people at the highest risk of overdose
  • Increasing access to care
  • Reducing health disparities

Overdose to Action Dashboard

Prevention Strategies

Each of the prevention strategies are driven and charged by surveillance efforts. Enhanced surveillance allows for rapidly identifying areas involving fatal and nonfatal overdoses. Furthermore, surveillance efforts improve overall coordination and readiness among programs to respond to the opioid epidemic in Mecklenburg County.

For additional information regarding the Overdose Data to Action Program visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

  • Linkage to and Retention to Care

    Implementation of post overdose response team to provide linkage to care within 72 hours of an overdose

    Linkage to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD)

    Linkage to wrap around services to include mental health support, transportation, obstetric care, employment, or harm reduction to reduce barriers to care

    Implementation of overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) programs

  • Harm Reduction

    Mitigating harmful consequences of drug use, including infectious disease transmission 

    Expanding the availability of Narcan in the community

    Increasing the connection to harm reduction services to include, but not limited to education on safer drug use, drug checking supplies, wound care kits and syringe access.

  • Enhancing Clinician and Health System Best Practice

    Encouraging and promoting use of the NC Controlled Substance Reporting System 

    Increasing training and education efforts with a focus on the 2022 CDC Clinician 

    Practicing Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Pain

Symptoms

Anyone can save a life. Understanding and recognizing when an overdose is occurring can be both critical and life-saving. These are some common signs and symptoms of overdose.

  • Unresponsiveness or loss of consciousness

  • Slow, shallow, or irregular breathing

  • Constricted or smaller pupils

  • Blue or purple lips or fingertips

  • Confusion or difficulty staying awake

  • Cold or clammy skin

Resources

Contact Us

For additional questions regarding the programs initiatives and goals or to partner, please email [email protected].

 

Take the Mecklenburg Education and Naloxone Distribution (MEND) self-paced online module to learn more about the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose and how to properly administer naloxone.