Request Letter (24II)

NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY HIDTA
HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA

March 25, 2024
Jessica Wolff, MPH
Public Health/Public Safety Team Lead
Overdose Response Strategy Public Health Director
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Division of Overdose Prevention
Chamblee Campus
4770 Buford Hwy MS F-63
Atlanta, GA 30341
Dear Ms. Wolff:
The Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) is investigating how to improve overdose prevention
interventions for people experiencing homelessness in response to reports from local partners
that overdose deaths among this population have increased sharply. Such reports are backed by
evidence. In Boston, for example, the overdose mortality rate among people experiencing
homelessness more than doubled between 2004 and 2018. In Los Angeles, overdose mortality
increased suddenly from 2016 to 2019, making overdose the leading cause of death among
people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County in 2017. In San Francisco, in 2020,
there were more than twice the number of deaths than in previous years, with most deaths
associated with overdose. As these data suggest, current approaches for preventing overdose may
not be reaching all groups. More tailored interventions are urgently needed. Given the high
contact that public safety has with people experiencing homelessness, the ORS has a critical role
to play in helping identify and facilitate access to interventions that better address the needs of
this population.
We are requesting technical assistance from your team and others at the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention to assist the ORS with investigating the availability and reach of
overdose prevention interventions specifically designed for people experiencing homelessness.
This investigation will include different data collection activities that are still being finalized.
The primary goal of the investigation will be the identification of tailored interventions for
____________________________________________________________________________
250 VESEY STREET, 20th FL.  NEW YORK, NY 10281  (646) 805-6000  FAX (646) 805-6162

people experience homelessness that can be scaled up nationally, in addition to best and
promising practices that other interventions can adopt. Secondary goals will include (1) the
development of recommendations for improving patrol officer interactions with people
experiencing homelessness and the ability of officers to connect individuals with appropriate
interventions and (2) a deeper understanding of the relationship between overdose and
homelessness to further inform prevention efforts. The ORS does not currently have capacity to
design and coordinate the data collection activities necessary to meet these goals. However, ORS
teams across the U.S. will assist by collecting the information. The ORS will retain ownership of
the data collected.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,

Chair
ORS Executive Committee
Director
New York/New Jersey HIDTA

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250 VESEY STREET, 20th FL.  NEW YORK, NY 10281  (646) 805-6000  FAX (646) 805-6162