August 31 marked International Overdose Awareness Day, which aims to inform people about the risks of drug overdose and preventative resources.
Nationally, over dose accounts for one death every 5 minutes (according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), 2022).
In Iowa, 384 individuals died by over dose in 2022. Of those, about 85% had at least one potential opportunity for intervention (according to the Center for Disease Control’s State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS), 2022).
Populations at Increased Risk in Iowa
Anyone using illicit substances is at risk of overdose, with some populations experiencing higher rates of overdose than others.
In 2022, males, Black non-Hispanic individuals, and individuals ages 25-34 experienced the highest overdose death rates in Iowa (SUDORS, 2022). Additionally, nearly 53% of individ uals who died by overdose in Iowa in 2022 had a co-occurring mental health diagnosis (SUDORS, 2022).
Improving access to person-centered behavioral health services and educating providers and the community about the linkage between mental health conditions and overdose risk are important tools in preventing overdose.
Iowa HHS is working to build a well-coordinated, easy-to-access, person-centered Behavioral Health System through ongoing system redesign efforts. Working alongside community partners and people with lived experience is import- ant in the development of effective overdose prevention strategies.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has an Opioid Overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach Practice Guide that outlines evidence-based practices to address the opioid epidemic in higher-risk populations.
Opportunities for Intervention
Educating communities on overdose prevention, recognition, and response is an important part of the continuum of response to the opioid epidemic.
In Iowa, over 60% of overdose deaths in 2022 had a potential bystander pres ent(SUDORS, 2022). Potential bystanders are people who were nearby that, if they were aware of the situation, may have responded to pre- vent the individual’s death.
Of these potential bystanders present, 75% provided no response, mainly because they were physically separated from the individual (such as in another room) and/or they did not recognize signs of an overdose.
There are many ways Iowa works to empower individuals with information about recognizing the signs of overdose and how to respond to a suspected overdose – including the use of naloxone.
What is Naloxone?
Naloxone is an FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal medication that, when administered properly, can reverse the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose.
Opioids include prescription and illicitsubstances like oxycodone, heroin, and fen tanyl. Naloxone is available as both a nasal spray and intramuscular injection and can be used without medical training or authorization. Because opioids may be present in any illicit drug, there is an enhanced need for overdose prevention, recognition, and response – including access to naloxone at the community level.
Learn more about naloxone at www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/naloxone.html.
It is important to note that naloxone only helps in situations where opioids are involved. Drugs such as stimulants (ex. Methamphetamines) and chemical adulterants (ex. Xylazine) cause complications that are not reversed by naloxone.
In Iowa in 2022, 30.5% of unintentional overdose deaths involved methamphetamine with no other stimulants or opioids while 20.1% involved illegally made fentanyl with no other opioids or stimulants (SUDORS, 2022).In overdoses where naloxone cannot be used,the best response is to call 911.
What Is Iowa HHS Doing to Help?
Iowa HHS has implemented multiple programs for free nasal-spray naloxone distribution.
Naloxone for on-site or organizational use.
Naloxone for organizations to distribute to community members.
Naloxone for individuals at pharmacies
1) Over-the-counter and 2) Community-based pharmacy program (only at participating locations – scroll to the bottom of the page for an interactive map)
Local organizations across Iowa are also working to expand access to naloxone, including:
Steps of Hope Iowa – Naloxone Boxes, Linn County Public Health – Vending Machines
You can learn about additional strategies organizations are implementing to address substance use across the state by reading through Healthy Iowans’ Partners in Action document at https://publications.iowa.gov.
What Can You Do to Help Prevent Overdose?
Talk about the dangers of substance use and overdose
Fight stigma by using person-first language
Understand the signs of potential overdose and how to respond
Learn about substance use and overdose, including compassionate overdose response
Share resources like Stop Overdose and Your Life Iowa
Promote, provide or support naloxone access in your community by:
Carrying naloxone and making it available at yourbusiness or organization
Applying for your organization to be a naloxone distributor
If you would like to share your community efforts, or if you have questions, please reach out to [email protected]