Overdose Data to Action

The "Overdose Data to Action" (CDC-RFA-CE19-1904) grant is a federal funding opportunity issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), specifically under the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. It is designed to address the rising epidemic of drug overdose deaths, particularly those involving opioids. The initiative continues and expands upon prior CDC programs, including the Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention for States, the Data Driven Prevention Initiative, and the Enhanced State Surveillance of Opioid-Involved Morbidity and Mortality. The overarching goal is to provide states, territories, and high-burden localities with the tools and resources necessary to obtain high-quality, complete, and timely data on drug overdoses, and to utilize this data to drive effective prevention and response activities. The grant requires awardees to implement two core components: a surveillance component and a prevention component. The surveillance component includes three required strategies for state and territorial applicants (including D.C. and Puerto Rico): collecting timely emergency department (ED) data on drug overdoses, collecting and disseminating overdose death data from death certificates and medical examiners/coroners, and implementing innovative surveillance systems to support interventions. City and county health departments, and smaller U.S. territories, are only required to implement the third surveillance strategy. Surveillance data must be shared with the CDC and local stakeholders, with enhancements available for those collecting additional hospital billing/discharge data or preliminary opioid death counts. The prevention component includes four required strategies and three optional ones. Required strategies include improving Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs), integrating state and local prevention efforts, establishing linkages to care, and supporting providers and health systems. Optional strategies include partnerships with public safety, empowering individuals through education and harm reduction strategies, and conducting innovative prevention projects. A key requirement is that state health departments must allocate at least 20% of their prevention funding to sub-awards for local communities in high-burden areas. The grant permits the use of funds for naloxone and fentanyl test strips but prohibits spending on drug take-back or disposal programs, or directly funding substance abuse treatment. Eligible applicants include state health departments, territories, D.C., and large city or county health departments that meet specific population and overdose death thresholds. Applications must demonstrate capacity to implement the proposed surveillance and prevention strategies, supported by letters of support from relevant partners such as PDMP authorities, substance abuse agencies, and public safety entities. Collaboration is a critical component of the program design, with recipients expected to work across multiple sectors to reduce overdose morbidity and mortality. The application deadline is November 18, 2022, for letters of intent, with full applications due shortly thereafter via Grants.gov. The estimated award date is September 1, 2019, and while the period of performance length is not explicitly listed, the program is designed to support multi-year implementation. The total program funding is approximately $945 million, with about 78 expected awards and an average annual award amount of $4 million. Award ceilings are as high as $9.1 million per budget period, with annual budgets adjusted based on surveillance and prevention strategy selections and population burden. Matching funds are not required. Evaluation criteria include the feasibility of the proposed work plan, the applicant’s capacity to implement surveillance and prevention activities, the clarity of the target population and strategy alignment, and the quality of the evaluation and performance measurement plan. Applications must include detailed budget narratives, work plans, and letters of support from required collaborators. Grantees must also comply with reporting, data-sharing, and evaluation standards set by the CDC. This opportunity is recurring, with regular updates and reissuance expected to align with the evolving public health crisis of drug overdoses.

Demonstrate collaboration and data-sharing capacity; prioritize high-burden areas; strong evaluation plan and local sub-award process strengthen application.