Legacy of federal opioid intervention: communities equipped to act Ohio State News, June 16, 2024
The HEALing Communities Study, launched in 2019, aimed to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths by implementing evidence-based practices across health, justice, and behavioral health settings in communities hardest hit by the opioid crisis, including Ohio. While the study did not significantly reduce opioid overdose deaths during its evaluation period, Ohio’s implementation of 137 evidence-based strategies in nine counties has laid a strong foundation for improving opioid use disorder treatment, safer prescribing practices, and community-based naloxone distribution, with researchers hopeful that these efforts will have a lasting positive impact.
Study aimed at reducing opioid overdose deaths presents results Spectrum News 1, June 23, 2024
The HEALing Communities Study aimed to reduce opioid-related deaths by implementing over 250 evidence-based practices in emergency departments, jails, and other venues across Ohio and other states. While the study didn’t show a significant reduction in overdose deaths, it successfully introduced key interventions like opioid screenings, naloxone distribution, and harm reduction kits, with Ohio seeing a 5% decrease in unintentional drug overdose deaths between 2021 and 2022, suggesting that these efforts could have a long-term impact.
Toledo Fire & Rescue Department recognized for it’s ‘Leave It Behind’ Naloxone program 13ABC, November 26, 2024
Toledo Fire & Rescue’s “Leave It Behind” program, which was supported by the HEALing Communities Study, distributes Naloxone kits to people impacted by opioid overdoses, allowing them or their families to administer the life-saving drug before paramedics arrive. Since its launch in 2020, the program has helped reduce opioid-related fatalities in Toledo, with over 850 kits distributed and a noticeable decrease in overdose deaths.
Opioid deaths rose 50 percent during the pandemic. In these places, they fell. Politico, June 26, 2024
The HEALing Communities Study brought together health workers, law enforcement, and local organizations to target overdose hotspots and streamline access to treatment in many communities, but the end of federal funding for the study has left some communities struggling to maintain momentum, hindered by political and bureaucratic obstacles, lack of resources, and challenges in expanding treatment access.
Smarter use of data (and AI) could bring down opioid deaths Politico, June 26, 2024
The HEALing Communities Study found that while the effort to reduce opioid deaths by 40% struggled due to challenges like the pandemic and fentanyl use, Lucas County, Ohio showed progress, reducing overdose deaths by 20% between 2020 and 2022 through improved data collection and outreach. To better understand other data collected by the study, experts suggest that AI could help analyze and utilize data more effectively to address smaller trends and underserved populations.