Enhancement and Expansion of ED-MOUD and Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Programs with Outcomes Analysis

Mississippi continues to experience significant opioid-related morbidity and mortality, with Emergency Departments (EDs) serving as critical intervention points for identifying individuals at risk of overdose, initiating evidence-based treatment, providing overdose prevention resources, and connecting individuals to ongoing care. Existing Emergency Department–based Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (ED-MOUD) and overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) efforts provide an opportunity to strengthen and expand the integration of overdose prevention, treatment initiation, patient navigation, and linkage to continued care. Continued enhancement of program coordination, clinical workflows, referral pathways, and patient engagement strategies is important to reducing missed opportunities for intervention and improving continuity of care following an emergency department encounter. Through the CDC Overdose Data to Action in States (OD2A-S) Cooperative Agreement, MSDH seeks to strengthen these efforts by expanding access to evidence-based MOUD initiation in the emergency department, increasing overdose education and naloxone distribution among populations at increased risk of overdose, and strengthening referral and warm-handoff processes to specialty psychiatry and other appropriate treatment and behavioral health services. An outcomes-focused analysis component will support evaluation of program implementation and effectiveness, including patient engagement, linkage and continuity of care, overdose-related trends, naloxone distribution and utilization, and other applicable outcomes. Analysis findings will be used to identify effective program components, implementation challenges, opportunities for continuous quality improvement, and strategies that may support sustainability and potential expansion of successful approaches. This project will support MSDH and the selected Subgrantee in enhancing and expanding a coordinated ED-based opioid overdose prevention and response model. Activities will emphasize evidence-based practices, measurable outcomes, data-informed program improvement, and sustainable approaches that support the goals and objectives of the CDC OD2A-S Cooperative Agreement and contribute to reducing overdose morbidity and mortality in Mississippi.