Leadership for Healthy People and Communities

On August 31, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded $279 million to 49 states, the District of Columbia, and 40 local health departments to help stop overdoses within their communities. The resources come from two new Overdose Data to Action funding opportunities and aim to fill a longstanding gap in funding for local communities by specifically supporting city, county, and territorial health departments. Both state and local efforts include a focus on collecting and using data to inform action, engaging people with lived experience, and addressing health disparities. The growing overdose crisis, particularly among young people, requires prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction efforts that are tailored to specific high-risk groups. Therefore, these funds aim to help states and communities respond more quickly, effectively, and equitably to prevent overdose death and injury. The expansion of direct-funding to local health departments for overdose-related activities has long been a key NACCHO advocacy priority with Congress. 

 

The CDC funding was announced as part of a larger investment of $450 million in new funding to strengthen prevention efforts, support state and local government treatment and recovery efforts, and disrupt and dismantle illicit drug trafficking operations.

The White House Office for National Drug Control Policy will receive approximately $20.5 million to add 164 new Drug-Free Communities Support Program awards for 2023, $1 million for the Real Deal on Fentanyl public awareness campaign, and $18.9 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program. The Health Resources and Services will award $80 million to rural communities across the country to support counter-overdose strategies. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will also receive $51 million to support treatment and recovery services.

 

In Ohio, the Ohio Department of Health, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, and Hamilton County Public Health were directly funded through this award.