Overdose Death Data Highlight Trends from 2013-2019

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) with the final 2019 overdose death data in the United States. The report shows nearly a 5% increase in overdose deaths compared to 2018. The western United States experienced the largest increase, with a jump of almost 70% in synthetic opioid-involved death rates from 2018 to 2019. In the same time period, the northeastern region experienced an approximately 45% increase in psychostimulant-involved death rates. Synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, appear to be the largest driving force in the increased overdose death rates. In conjunction with ongoing warnings about the COVID-19 epidemic having a detrimental effect of on the already worsening opioid epidemic, the need for renewed and vigorous approach to combat this crisis is needed, the report says.

Jails and FQHCs – A New Partnership

Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are community-based healthcare providers that address the needs of the community members regardless of their ability to pay. FQHCs are designed to assist vulnerable populations, including those leaving incarceration. Research data show that those who have been incarcerated exhibit higher rates of chronic and infectious disease in comparison to those who have never been in custody. Almost 60% of individuals who are incarcerated have a substance use disorder and are 40 times more likely to face an opioid overdose death within two weeks of release. Additionally, it is unlikely an individual will have health insurance at time of release and eligibility for Medicaid benefits for recently released inmates vary from state to state. As such, a growing number of public health departments and departments of corrections have been partnering with FQHCs and jail-based treatments to create a continuous care model for justice-involved populations moving in and out of confinement. Two such initiatives have been piloted in Washington State and New Jersey with promising results so far.

WISQARS 2019 Fatal and Nonfatal Injury Data Now Available and New System Updates

The Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) now has 2019 data available for the following modules:

• WISQARS Data Visualization 
• Fatal Injury Reports 
• Leading Causes of Death 
• Years of Potential Life Lost 
• Nonfatal Injury Reports 
• Leading Causes of Nonfatal Injury

There have also been new system updates in which the user is able to use metro/non-metro filters for the data visualization module. Years of Potential Life Lost is now included in the Fatal Injury Data Visualization and Leading Causes of Death Data Visualization modules.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Kentucky’s Quarterly Peer-to-Peer Learning Network Webinar

3 p.m. – 4 p.m. EST, Friday, March 19

The Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center is hosting a learning collaboration to discuss evaluation strategies and approaches for linkage-to-care programs. Guest Speaker, Tyler Jennings, will also be highlighting Kentucky’s Recovery Housing Program. This will cover the research methods, website development and evaluation structures implemented.

Click here to register.

Becoming Trauma Informed: A Core Element in Effective Services for Justice Settings

2 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. EST, Wednesdays (Three-Part Series), March 17, 31 and April 14

The Bureau of Justice Assistance in collaboration with the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) team and Advocates for Human Potential are hosting a three-part webinar series. The series aims to highlight and bring awareness to the impact of stress, adversity, and trauma on people’s lives, criminal justice, and behavioral health. The series will address the following topics:

Becoming Trauma Informed: Understanding the ACE Study – March 17

Becoming Trauma Informed and Moving to Trauma Responsive – March 31

Trauma-Specific Services: Programs That Work – April 14

Click here to register.

Indiana Opioid Echo - Virtual ECHO Clinic for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder and Stimulant Use Disorder

Noon – 1 p.m., Wednesdays (Series), January – March 2021

This free TeleECHO clinic aims to teach participants on how to identify and manage patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and stimulant use disorder (SUD). The goal is to have a team of experts present on information related to medication-assisted treatment and continuity of care increase clinical competence in treating OUD and SUD. It is designed as a drop-in model, so attendance every week is not necessary. Additionally, this is an opportunity to gather CME credits, each session counts for one credit.

Upcoming sessions:

Mar. 10 - Acute and Chronic Complications of Methamphetamine Use 

Mar.17 - Prescription Stimulant Abuse

Click here to register and get a complete list of all upcoming sessions.