Strategy
Support Data Collection and Research
Read Examples of OAA Funded Proposals
See how other cities and counties are implementing their opioid abatement activities.
Explore Innovative Programs
Learn from innovative or evidence-based programs implemented by others.
Resources, Training & Guidelines
Locate resources, educational materials, and evidence-based guidelines to implement successful interventions.
Systematic data collection and analysis matter because they show you whether or not the opioid abatement strategies you support are working and how to improve them. This guides the allocation of funds and leads to the best possible outcomes for your community over time. Proper collection that includes all populations in your locality will also ensure greater access to resources for all populations in your locality.
Evidence-Based Strategies
Community Needs Assessments
Needs assessments provide a baseline understanding of the opioid problem in a community, helping to identify gaps in services and prioritize interventions. Engaging in a systematic process to gather information about the specific needs and resources of a community and the prevalence of OUD, overdose rates, access to treatment, and other relevant factors.
- Use a variety of data sources, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and existing data sets (e.g., healthcare claims data, hospital discharge data).
- Engage diverse community members in the needs assessment process, including treatment providers, social service agencies, and people with lived experience of opioid use disorder.
- Regularly update the needs assessment to track changes in the community and areas in need of increased attention.
The Commonwealth’s Examples
- Hospitals and health departments conduct community health assessments to identify local health needs, trends, and gaps in care, often through surveys, data collection, and public input. These assessments help guide health policies and resource allocation, and you can access or assist by visiting VDH CHA/CHIP webpage and conversing with the local hospital system.
- State Agency
- Bedford County is using funds to support consultants for program development, strategic planning, and expansion of professional counseling services. For this role, areas typically include prevention, treatment, recovery support, and community engagement around opioid-related harms. A strong strategic plan should outline clear goals, measurable outcomes, and a coordinated approach across local partners.
- OAA Funded
- Gold Standard
- Rural
- Individual Distribution
- OAA Funded 2026
- The Prince William County Opioid Needs Assessment aims to identify and address the gaps in services and resources related to opioid use disorder within the community, providing a foundation for targeted interventions and improved public health outcomes. Prince William County Opioid Needs Assessment July 2024.
Surveillance Systems
Establish ongoing systems to monitor trends in opioid use, overdoses, and related harms. This can include tracking emergency department visits, hospitalizations, deaths, and naloxone administrations.
- Establish partnerships with key data sources, such as hospitals, emergency medical services, and public health agencies.
- Use standardized data collection methods and definitions to ensure data quality and comparability.
- Analyze and disseminate surveillance data regularly to inform decision-making and public health interventions.
Program Evaluation
Rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness of opioid abatement programs helps determine whether interventions are achieving their intended goals and identify areas for improvement. This involves collecting data on program utilization rates, populations served and outcomes, such as reductions in opioid use, overdoses, and related harms.
- Develop clear evaluation metrics that align with program goals and objectives.
- Collect data on both process measures (e.g., number of people served) and outcome measures (e.g., changes in drug use).
- Incorporate qualitative insights from program administrators and populations served. This will provide insight into the organizational, cultural, and individual factors that shape program success.
- Use evaluation findings to inform program improvement and future intervention opportunities.
- Roanoke is establishing an analysis of their recovery ecosystem. The Roanoke Valley Collective Response will serve as a program evaluator to determine the best services for the community. Items in this plan include regulatory data collection, developing a PEER Network, marketing campaigns, enrollment to regional substance misuse recovery programs, and medical and emergency planning.
- OAA Funded
- Expansion of Services
- Chesterfield County is distributing sub-grants throughout the county to support new and expanded substance use disorder services. These grants are to ensure residents are able to access the appropriate resources to mitigate the opioid epidemic. The Chesterfield County Substance Use Steering committee will accept, review, and award the subgrants.
- OAA Funded
- Gold Standard
- Individual Distribution
- OAA Funded 2026
- The City of Richmond is funding projects centered on treatment and prevention initiatives for opioid use disorder. These grants are to ensure equal access to care to all residents across the city and assist with addressing co-occurring mental healthcare, high-risk populations, and integrated substance use disorder services.
- OAA Funded
- Gold Standard
- Individual Distribution
- OAA Funded 2026
- Prince William County created an opioid response coordinator position to coordinate efforts to prevent, treat, monitor, and respond to opioid related events. This position will foster community collaboration and remain data driven to mitigate harm reduction and prevention efforts.
- OAA Funded
- Gold Standard
- Individual Distribution
- OAA Funded 2026
- The Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) Toolkit aims to provide evidence-based resources for cities and counties in use of opioid abatement funds. This resource aims to compile key resources as well as to integrate large socioecological data with local community context to help inform OAA-funded programs.
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Henrico County’s Community Corrections Program and the Recovery Court program hired a third party to evaluate the recidivism in both programs.The data will highlight strengths, challenges, and assist with data driven policy.
- Gold Standard
- Individual Distribution
- OAA Funded 2027
