Bill Overview
Title: Overdose Review Team Act
Description: This bill provides funding to the Department of Health and Human Services for grants that support drug overdose fatality review teams in states, Indian tribes, territories, and localities. These multidisciplinary teams track fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses that occur in the jurisdiction to identify relevant trends and patterns and recommend policies and practices for preventing and reducing drug overdoses.
Sponsors: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals at risk of drug overdose
Estimated Size: 15000000
- The bill provides funding for developing review teams to assess drug overdose fatalities.
- These teams will likely operate in various jurisdictions, including states, Indian tribes, territories, and localities, impacting policy development in those areas.
- Drug overdose fatalities are a major concern globally, especially with the opioid crisis.
- As of the latest estimates, there are more than 500,000 drug overdose deaths annually worldwide.
- The purpose of the bill is to prevent and reduce drug overdoses, which potentially affects all individuals susceptible to drug misuse.
Reasoning
- The policy's primary impact hits communities with high drug overdose rates, concentrated in regions with severe opioid crises.
- The American target estimate for those at risk is roughly 15 million people, implying targeted funding per person for interventions and review teams.
- Given the funding limitations, only a subset of states or localities can fully implement comprehensive review team operations, so some areas will see quicker policy impacts than others.
- Individuals most directly impacted include those who have experienced overdoses or are at high risk, communities who have been severely affected by the opioid epidemic, and healthcare workers in these areas.
- People not directly involved in drug overdose settings may not perceive immediate or direct impacts.
Simulated Interviews
Factory worker (West Virginia)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have lost several coworkers to opioid overdoses, and it's scary in our community.
- Anything that helps save lives here is a good idea, but I hope they get enough funding to reach us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Healthcare worker (California)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The ER sees too many overdoses weekly.
- More data and prevention practices from policy like this can help us immensely.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
College student (New York)
Age: 19 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen friends overdose.
- If policies from these teams can prevent such incidents, it'll be a game-changer in university life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Retired (Oklahoma)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- In our support groups, we've seen families torn apart by overdoses.
- Review teams may help us support these families better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Pharmacist (New Mexico)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's challenging when I know the prescriptions might end in misuse.
- Better tracking of overdose data could help change practices I see daily.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Public Health Official (Kentucky)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This funding can bolster our current efforts and expand them.
- It's critical for refining our approach to this devastating issue.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Student (Ohio)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I fear relapse, and seeing overdose patterns is scary.
- Policies that help in reducing overdoses can help people like me stay clean.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Software Developer (Utah)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't seen much personal impact from overdoses.
- While the policy seems needed, I doubt I'll notice any change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Small business owner (Florida)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Rising overdose rates are a community worry here.
- Proactive teams could address this and help local families feel safer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Social worker (Massachusetts)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Overdose interventions are crucial parts of my job.
- A policy that provides more information on preventing drug misuse is invaluable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $21000000 (Low: $15750000, High: $26250000)
Year 3: $22050000 (Low: $16537500, High: $27562500)
Year 5: $24255000 (Low: $18191250, High: $30218750)
Year 10: $29295750 (Low: $21971813, High: $36524688)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The scalability of the drug overdose review teams across different jurisdictions.
- The effectiveness and efficiency of the review teams in identifying actionable insights for policy changes.
- Coordination with existing public health and safety organizations to avoid duplication of efforts.