NU17CE010193

New Mexico Department of Health Overdose Data to Action, Surveillance and Prevention - In 2021, New Mexico (NM) had the sixth highest overall drug overdose death rate in the nation. For unintentional overdoses, the 2021 death rate for New Mexico was 48.5 deaths (age-adjusted) per 100,000 (CDC SUDORS, 2023).

Opioids were the most common drug involved in drug overdose in 2021, with three out of four overdose deaths involving either a prescription opioid, heroin, or fentanyl. Available Medical Investigator Report data indicate that 73% of drug overdose deaths had at least one potential opportunity for intervention, and 60% had a bystander present who could have intervened at the overdose event.

Since 2016, NM has seen state-level improvements in safer prescribing practices, increased use of NM's Prescription Monitoring Program, and greater use and availability of naloxone. Yet opioid misuse remains a serious public health and social problem.

New Mexico has a long history of implementing wide-ranging harm reduction strategies for people who use drugs. The Harm Reduction Act was passed by the legislature in 1997 with syringe service programs starting in 1998. Notable successes included the nation's first naloxone dispensing immunity law in 2001 and naloxone distribution at syringe services programs. In 2019, New Mexico became the first state to decriminalize possession of drug paraphernalia, and in 2022, new legislation amended the Harm Reduction Act to allow for distribution of fentanyl test strips and other drug testing devices.

During the project period, NMDOH will implement the OD2A Data to Action framework and achieve the following short-term outcomes, in alignment with the CDC OD2A-S logic model:

- Increase the amount of timely, detailed, comprehensive, and actionable surveillance data
- Increase the range of data dissemination, data sharing, and overall data availability
- Increase NM clinician awareness of evidence-based practices for pain management
- Increase NM clinician expertise and confidence to provide equitable care for opioid and stimulant use disorders
- Increase collaboration and communication among NMDOH's external and internal partners
- Increased access to harm reduction education and services, including access to naloxone
- Increase use of navigators to link PWUD to care and services
- NMDOH includes case managers, community health workers (CHWs)/CH representatives/promotoras, certified peer support workers (CPSWs), harm reduction specialists, and peer educators (persons with lived experience) in the navigator category

NMDOH will also seek to impact intermediate and long-term outcomes:

- Expanded use of surveillance, evaluation, programmatic, and community data to inform the implementation and improvement of prevention and response efforts
- Expanded utilization of evidence-based (EB) approaches to prevent and respond to overdoses
- Increased linkages to care and engagement in care across various settings
- Increased equitable delivery and improved access to care
- Decrease in fatal and non-fatal overdoses in NM
- Improved health equity among groups disproportionately affected and previously underserved.

New Mexico Department Of Health

NOT APPLICABLE

93.136 - Injury Prevention and Control Research and State and Community Based Programs

CDC Office of Financial Resources (OFR) [HHS - CDC]

Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support (CSTLTS) [HHS - CDC]

New Mexico United States

State-Wide

Overdose Data to Action in States (CDC-RFA-CE-23-0002)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 200% from $4,322,929 to $12,968,787.