When strategizing on how to prevent drug overdoses, look to the CDC first, Elizabeth Tracey reports

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Schools, communities, medical systems, all are working to intervene when it comes to the epidemic rate of drug overdose death we are experiencing nationally. At a recent talk at Johns Hopkins, CDC director Mandy Cohen says including the many resources the agency has will inform best practices.

Cohen: What works to prevent overdoses? Like fentanyl test strips, Narcan, I'd also say connecting folks to recovery care in the emergency room. These are best practices from CDC funded and evaluated projects. We also know there's a lot of opioid settlement dollars that localities and states are thinking about how do we best spend it. I'd say look at the CDC evidence and data, we can be a partner there to help you think through what to spend dollars on how to do that in a smart way.     :30

Cohen says the CDC also has abundant data on things that don’t work, and this helps avoid expensive and ineffective mistakes in attempting to reduce drug overdose deaths. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.