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Who We Are

OverdoseFreePA

OverdoseFreePA is made possible by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, and is directed and managed by the Pennsylvania Overdose Reduction Technical Assistance Center (TAC), University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. The website is a result of collaboration with county and state partners across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Our partnerships include:

  • Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association
  • Pennsylvania Medical Society
  • Pennsylvania Pharmacist Association
  • Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society
  • The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
  • Pennsylvania Dental Association
  • Drug Enforcement Administration 360 Strategy

There are a growing number of Pennsylvania counties involved in ramping up overdose prevention, treatment, and recovery activities to address the opioid overdose epidemic. The counties involved are collaborating to develop resources that can be used by all Pennsylvanians to increase community awareness and knowledge of overdose and overdose prevention strategies as well as to support initiatives aimed at decreasing drug overdoses and deaths within the participating counties. As a centralized resource and technical assistance hub, OverdoseFreePA is a central repository for these efforts to facilitate increased treatment and prevention efforts in these communities.

Pennsylvania Opioid Overdose Reduction Technical Assistance Center (TAC)

Pennsylvania, and the nation at large, is in the midst of opioid overdose epidemic. The TAC’s vision is to lead Pennsylvania communities to zero overdoses.The TAC hopes to achieve this vision by providing concierge technical assistance in the form of data driven recommendations and customized strategic planning to counties working to eliminate overdoses. The TAC strives to lead the field in identifying and sharing strategies to eliminate overdose through the central repository of OverdoseFreePA.

Based out of the Program Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU) at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Pharmacy, the TAC assists counties and communities in assessing needs, building capacity to address the needs, developing and implementing data driven plans with high quality outcomes, and sustaining initiatives to eliminate overdoses, both fatal and non-fatal, throughout Pennsylvania.

How We Work

The opioid overdose crisis is complex, the community driven approach that we utilize will give county coalitions the skills necessary to remain focused and steadfast through any obstacles they face in reducing opioid abuse and overdose.

Our methodology relies on the following:

  • Proven Implementation Framework
  • Effective Evidence Based Programs
  • Ongoing Evaluation and Assessment

We work within a proven implementation framework developed by Dr. Janice Pringle. Learn more about the implementation framework.

We focus on effective approaches and strategies called evidence based programs (EBPs), which have undergone rigorous evaluation and peer review. The programs have been successfully replicated and are endorsed or certified by a federal agency or reputable research organization by inclusion in their registry of effective programs. Learn more about EBPs.

Evaluation and assessment of efforts is an important component to our process. We have methods to track trends in overdose death data, measure outcomes of initiatives, and show changing resource availability, such as naloxone in pharmacies. Learn more about the importance of evaluation.

We are confident that using this methodology will guide the TAC to achieving its vision of leading Pennsylvania to zero overdose deaths.

Who Supports Us

The TAC is funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Pennsylvania tax dollars pay for the OverdoseFreePA.org website.

Acknowledgements

We are honored to be joined by many other organizations in efforts to reduce overdose and overdose deaths and would like to acknowledge the following groups and organizations.

  • Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP)
  • Allegheny County Health Department
  • The Alliance for Safe and Drug-Free Children
  • The Bridge to Hope
  • Drug Free Pennsylvania
  • Prevention Point Pittsburgh
  • PennsylvaniaCommission on Crime and Delinquency
  • Drug Enforcement Administration
  • OverdoseFreePA County Coroner Collaborators
  • TAC County Collaborators
  • United States Attorney’s Office, Western District
  • University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics, Graduate School of Public Health
  • Prevention Point Pittsburgh, Prevention Point Philadelphia
  • Poison Control Pittsburgh
  • Office of National Drug Control Policy
  • Community Care Behavioral Health
  • Pennsylvania Department of Health
  • Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
  • Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
  • Commonwealth Prevention Alliance
  • EPISCenter
  • Criminal Justice Advisory Boards
  • Allegheny County Medical Examiner Office
  • Allegheny County Health Department
  • Pennsylvania Association of County Drug and Alcohol Administrators
  • PAStop

Our Partners

Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society
Pennsylvania Dental Association
DEA 360 Strategy
Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association
The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association
Pennsylvania Medical Society