A National Call to Action to Prevent Overdoses

March 15, 2024

The White House this week launched a nationwide campaign to address America’s overdose crisis.

The Biden administration said the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose will create partnerships across all sectors “to commit to save lives by increasing training on and access to life-saving opioid overdose reversal medications.”

“America’s overdose crisis impacts all of us. Families in small towns, large cities, Tribal lands, and every community in between are affected, no matter who they are, what they look like, or how much money they make,” the White House said in a statement.

Here’s what you need to know:

• To participate:  Organizations, philanthropists, local governments, and businesses across all industries are encouraged to participate online.
• Initiatives:  The White House campaign will focus on employee training for opioid overdose reversal medications; making these medications available in first aid kits; and distributing these medications across communities.
• By the numbers:  The CDC reported an estimated 1.1 percent increase in U.S. overdose deaths from October 2022 to October 2023. Oregon saw the sharpest increased in estimated overdose deaths (43%), while Indiana experienced the sharpest decline (-17.3%).
• In Pennsylvania:  Pennsylvania had a 3 percent decline in predicted drug overdose deaths during that period. The CDC data came with a caveat that the estimated count was likely underreported due to incomplete data.
• Quotable:  “Organizations and businesses—big or small, public or private—should be ready to help keep their employees, customers, and communities safe,” the White House said in a statement.

Additional information about the campaign is available online.