Community Needs Assessment

Dallas County Health and Human Services - 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75207
Telephone: 214-819-2000


Overdose Data to Action: Dallas County Community Needs Assessment

Dallas County hospitals reported a substantial increase in drug-related overdoses including non-fatal overdoses, from 2,419 in 2018 to 3,818 in 2023. The Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) Community Needs Assessment (CNA) was conducted to identify key gaps and needs for stakeholders serving those suffering from the opioid crisis and the barriers people with lived or living experience face in accessing support, care, and treatment in Dallas County. This assessments’ findings provide a strategic roadmap to advance, strengthen, and de-stigmatize public health and health infrastructure within the county. Results from the OD2A CNA drive strategies to improve access to care, expand existing services and create new treatment services opportunities, and guides short, medium, and long-term implementation plans to address the gaps and needs across stakeholders and people with lived or living experience in Dallas County.

Graph - Total Hospital Reported Overdoses Dallas County, DCHHS

Four Key Priorities Over the Next Three Years of the OD2A CNA Implementation

  1. Expand Treatment and Response Services: Increasing federal, state, and local funding for treatment, response, and recovery programs is imperative to reduce morbidity and mortality related to opioid use in Dallas County. The following expansion and investment of services include, but are not limited to:
  • Development of Youth Treatment Centers
  • Development and Implementation of Spanish-Language Treatment Programs
  • Expansion of Bed Capacity in Existing Treatment Centers
  • Expansion and Investment in Outpatient Treatment Services
  • Expansion of Existing Opioid Response Team Programs
  • Expansion of Medicated-Assisted Treatment Services
  1. Cross-Sector Integration of Recovery Support Specialists: Expanding recovery support specialists (RSS) representation in healthcare, criminal justice, and social services to connect with people with lived or living experience throughout their journey in Dallas County.
  2. Intersectional Changes: Addressing the social determinants of health and taking an intersectional lens across identities for people with lived and living experience is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality due to substance use. The following are some of the recommended activities to be undertaken:
  • Accessible Transitional Housing
  • Expansion of Diversion Drug Courts
  • Implement Intersectional Supports for Vulnerable Populations
  • Integrate Mental Health Services in Substance Use Treatment Programs
  • Cross-Sector Implementation and Enforcement of Trauma-Informed Care
  1. Policy Changes and Advocacy: Leveraging DCHHS’ role as a critical community health strategist to change and advocate for changes in outdated policies, laws, and practices that perpetuate stigma and cause harm to people with lived or living experience.
  • Modification of Laws that Ban Harm Reduction Strategies
  • Modification of the Texas Good Samaritan Law
  • Update Medicaid Reimbursement Rates for Substance Use Disorder

** This Community Needs Assessment was conducted with funding provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Overdose Data to Action: Limiting Overdose through Collaborative Actions in Localities (OD2A: LOCAL) grant.

 

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