District of Columbia Funding Priorities

Overdose prevention funding - District of Columbia

There were 107,968 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2022 (34.6 deaths per 100,000 standard population), a 1.2% increase from 2021.1

• There were 451 overdose deaths in the District of Columbia in 20222
• There were 64.3 overdose deaths per 100,000 people (age-adjusted) in the District of Columbia in 20222

Overdose prevention programs

• Overdose Data to Action in States
  • District of Columbia Department of Health: $3,945,761

• Public Health and Public Safety
  • Overdose Response Strategy: $87,600*

*average award amount

Examples of how the District of Columbia is working to prevent overdose

Syringe service program

The District of Columbia enhanced its syringe service program to focus on groups that have been historically marginalized. It now includes Us Helping Us, a syringe services provider focused primarily on men who have sex with men. Us Helping Us improved reach to this population through its existing community relationships.

Community harm reduction awareness

Through a series of community meetings in the District of Columbia, organizations increased harm reduction awareness by distributing safer use kits and naloxone to the community. This was particularly important given the spikes in overdoses in DC due to social isolation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and reached individuals who would have otherwise been in isolation.