Drug Overdose Research Programs

Programs that collect timely and comprehensive data on fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses (particularly those involving opioids), and the risk factors associated with fatal overdoses. With tools such as syndromic surveillance (emergency department and emergency medical services data) and the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS), which documents toxicology, death scene investigations, route of administration and risk factors, the programs can disseminate definitive surveillance findings to key stakeholders that can be used to inform prevention and response efforts.