Nebraska DHHS releases dashboard that maps overdose prevention and treatment resources

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has released a new overdose prevention dashboard with statistics and a statewide map of related services.

Part of the new dashboard, announced in a Wednesday statement, outlines various services across Nebraska’s 93 counties, such as no-cost naloxone availability, drug take-back sites, Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) providers and treatment or recovery services. 

Charity Menefee, director of DHHS’s Division of Public Health, said that while the state has one of the lowest drug overdose death rates, these resources will strengthen prevention.

“This tool is a valuable data access point to educate providers and community members on the treatment and resources that are available to someone who may be struggling with substance use,” Menefee said in a statement.

Statewide, there are 110 providers who offer naloxone and drug take-back sites, 120 MOUD providers and 271 treatment and recovery options, according to the dashboard. Another 174 providers will take leftover prescription drugs only, and 17 others just offer free naloxone.

Naloxone can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose within two to three minutes. More than one dose may be required for stronger opioids. More information is available here.

The dashboard also explains how overdose rates in Nebraska have changed over time, based on age, time or substance. Those statistics can be viewed by local health departments or statewide. Individuals can search for resources by their specific location or ZIP code.

Earlier this year, the Legislature passed a package brought by State Sens. Tony Vargas of Omaha and Beau Ballard of Lincoln related to opioid overdoses. Parts of the package will:

• Distribute funds for opioid treatment and response (Vargas).
• Require emergency medical service providers who treat or transport a person experiencing a suspected or actual overdose to report such incidents within 72 hours, when possible, a measure designed to provide better nationwide data mapping (Ballard).

Nebraska’s drug take-back program is designated for leftover prescription drugs, such as for pain management, to curb risks for overdoses, poisoning and misuse.

State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward shepherded Legislative Bill 1035 through this year, which will take effect July 19 and authorize a prescription drug donation program. The bill calls for a partnership with Iowa nonprofit SafeNetRx, which will return donated safe, packaged and monitored medications to low-income Nebraska patients.

“Every day is a drug take-back day in Nebraska,” Menefee said. “The small act of disposing of prescription medication in a timely manner can have a big impact by preventing accidental poisonings, protecting the groundwater and soil, and helping to stop misuse.”