Overdose data to action v.2 in states: using surveillance data to drive overdose prevention and response in tennessee tennessee continues to experience an unprecedented increase in drug overdose and…

Overdose data to action v.2 in states: using surveillance data to drive overdose prevention and response in tennessee tennessee continues to experience an unprecedented increase in drug overdose and drug overdose-related death mostly attributable to the rise in highly potent illicit substances such as fentanyl. The complex and evolving nature of the opioid epidemic requires sustained authentic partnerships and community-specific interventions to protect at-risk individuals and improve their quality of life. Communities across tennessee continue to experience the disproportionate burden of the opioid epidemic in the united states. The tennessee department of health (TDH) is striving to (1) decrease overdose related deaths and related morbidity and mortality; (2) increase sustainability; and (3) enhance the ability to track and prevent non-fatal and fatal overdoses in tennessee. Furthermore, TDH strives to (1) strengthen evidence based informed interventions; and (2) sustain advancement and improvement in prevention practices and outcomes through the optional activities. TDH will use the following activities and strategies: strategy 1: surveillance infrastructure - develop and enhance the integrated data system (IDS) to support and expand drug overdose surveillance activities and implement automation strategies for delivering curated data sets. Strategy 2: morbidity surveillance - collect and disseminate timely data from healthcare facilities, specifically from emergency departments (EDS), as part of CDC's drug overdose surveillance and epidemiology (dose) system. Strategy 3: mortality surveillance - collect, validate, and report data on fatal overdoses to CDC using death certificates for all cases as well as autopsy/ medical examiner (me) reports, toxicology, and reports of investigation utilizing the TN state unintentional drug overdose reporting system (sudors) team. Strategy 4: BIO surveillance (optional) - establish a BIO surveillance system to provide definitive testing on clinical samples from suspected non-fatal overdoses in the emergency department (ED). Strategy 5: data linkage (optional) - conduct supplemental linkages to collect additional information about the circumstances surrounding overdose deaths. Strategy 6: clinician/ health system engagement and health IT/ pdmp enhancement - educate clinicians on best practices for pain management and screening diagnosis and expand pdmp data sharing strategy 7: public safety partnerships/ intervention - develop and maintain public health and safety collaboratives strategy 8: harm reduction - (1) utilize navigators to connect individuals to services; (2) ensure people who use drugs (pwud) have access to overdose prevention; and (3) sustain partnerships with syringe services programs strategy 9: community-based linkage to care - initiate linkage to care and recovery activities