These strategies are suggestions based on stakeholder knowledge, experience, and feedback obtained through this project. Through the use of SOS, communities across Michigan can hopefully implement strategies similar to those presented below to enhance community-specific opioid overdose response and prevention efforts.
Data collected and displayed through near real-time overdose reports and the web-based interactive dashboard provides stakeholders with a clear idea of opioid overdose incidents and trends throughout their jurisdictions and across the state of Michigan. The availability of near real-time opioid overdose data on a consistent and timely basis can facilitate the implementation of data-driven policies.
When thinking of communities where resources are limited, establishing coordinated communication and networks of care between community-based organizations increases organizational capacity and patient access. Organizations working together to employ resources and services across larger geographic areas helps to increase accurate and timely allocation of resources.
Limited education around substance use disorder and community organizations’ efforts impact law enforcement’s understanding of how to appropriately respond to overdose incidents. Coordinated efforts between law enforcement and community-based organizations involved in opioid overdose response and prevention efforts can serve to educate public safety officials on what is going on in the community and how to best respond to an individual who has overdosed.
Increase community engagement through direct interaction with the impacted community. Many stakeholders in the city of Detroit highlight the need for canvassing and other “boots on the ground” response and prevention efforts. Direct outreach efforts such as these work to increase organizational reach and enhance their interaction and delivery of services directly to those in need. Education and awareness is vital to prevention. Educating identified communities on the risks associated with using opioids for acute pain and alternatives available to them can help mitigate long term use. SOS data can also be used to identify providers and prescribers who provide services to high risk communities in order to educate them on alternatives to opioids and relevant resources for treatment and recovery.
Establishing youth prevention programs is key to spreading early education and awareness that can prevent individuals from ever misusing substances or experiencing an overdose. Getting youth involved in response and prevention efforts through employment and volunteer opportunities and the utilization of local music and media influencers to spread anti-substance use messaging are some recommendations on how to increase the focus on prevention and youth awareness given by stakeholders in Detroit.
Conclusion
With the introduction of a near real-time fatal and non-fatal opioid overdose surveillance system that provides geographic data for each incident, it is our hope that community stakeholders across the state of Michigan will use the system to develop and implement best-fit strategies such as the ones above for their community. Future work should be done to evaluate these responses and to establish data-driven legislative policies that will work to end the opioid epidemic.