Implementing a Needs Assessment to Advance Health Equity in Overdose Prevention and Surveillance Initiatives.

Objectives: State, local, and federal agencies have expanded efforts to address the root causes of overdoses, including health inequity and related social determinants of health. As an Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) technical assistance provider, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) conducted the first national needs assessment to understand capacity and technical assistance needs of OD2A jurisdictions in advancing health equity.

Methods: ASTHO designed and disseminated the OD2A Recipient Health Equity Needs Assessment (RHENA) to 66 OD2A-funded jurisdictions from February to March 2022.