Non-Fatal Overdose Program

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Opioid overdose deaths continue to increase in Maricopa County, Arizona, reaching a record death rate of 28.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2021. In 2017, Arizona issued a statute requiring all health professionals to report suspected opioid overdoses to the local health department. The Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) launched a novel nonfatal overdose case investigation program in 2021, mirroring the public health response for most other mandated disease reports. In March 2021, MCDPH began case investigations of suspected nonfatal opioid overdoses reported by Maricopa County hospital facilities. Through our program, we have identified opportunities for improving naloxone access. We have identified potential populations to prioritize for outreach. Additionally, we found that overdose prevention strategies should ensure services for people who use drugs across different routes of drug administration and continue to expand upon linkage to care services for people who have just experienced a nonfatal overdose.