The opioid crisis is a national public health emergency, highlighting the urgent need for state, tribal, local, territorial, and federal agencies to work together on effective public health and prevention strategies to reduce opioid misuse and opioid-related harms. CDC is supporting efforts to reduce opioid overdoses through coordinated preparedness and response activities that link public health, law enforcement, and healthcare providers.
Opioid Rapid Response Teams (ORRTs) are composed of public health experts ready to deploy on short notice to support jurisdictions experiencing spikes in opioid-related overdoses or the closure of a clinic where patients are prescribed opioid therapy. ORRTs can help reduce opioid-related morbidity and mortality by identifying risks of harm and linking to appropriate clinical care and social services.
After evaluating a requesting jurisdiction’s needs, CDC may deploy an ORRT in coordination with other federal agencies to
- Provide urgent communication to individuals affected or at heightened risk of opioid-related harms
- Provide clinicians and other healthcare providers with appropriate resources about recommended opioid prescribing practices, guidance for safe, patient-centered opioid tapering, screening for opioid use disorders, and opioid use disorder treatment options available
- Provide epidemiology assistance for overdose surveillance, as well as risk factors and protective factors for overdose
- Conduct targeted outreach to at-risk groups and provide broader messaging to the public at large about public health and public safety in the context of the opioid crisis
- Assist with capacity building for long-term opioid response
For questions, contact the Opioid Rapid Response Team at ORRT@cdc.gov.
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