Overdose Prevention

We are a group of organizations collaborating to identify issues, goals, gaps, or barriers and possible intervention and prevention activities to reduce drug misuse, substance use disorders, and drug overdoses in Lincoln and Lancaster County.

Over 15 organizations have met regularly since August 2020 to identify our community strengths and areas of growth in preventing opioid overdoses.  The assets identified are shared on this website with the intent of serving as a place for residents to access many of the community’s resources in one location, as well as provide education about pain management alternatives.

Our 2023 strategic goals include:

1. Raise awareness among our general adult population about non-opioid pain management options.
2. Raise awareness among our general adult population regarding accessing life-saving resources.

In 2023 community awareness and knowledge will be enhanced through placement of original media messages created locally and through media shared from other resources.

Reduce active opioid and other addictions by providing consumer and provider education and advocacy through collaborations in treatment, reducing stigma, and prevention education.

People are able to get the right help when they need it.

Nationally, there have been nearly 841,000 people who have died since 1999 from an overdose.  Over 70% of the deaths in 2019 involved an opioid.  And 72.9% of those opioid poisonings involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl. (CDC).

Nebraska experienced an increase in drug related deaths from 168 in 2019 to 191 drug related deaths in 2020 (reporting as of May 2021). The percent of drug-related deaths that were opioid related also increased from 2019 to 2020.  In 2019 64 deaths were related to an opioid or 38.1% of drug related deaths.  In 2020, 89 deaths were related to an opioid or  46.6% of drug related deaths (DHHS).

Locally for the last three years there has been an increase in the total number of Non-Fatal Drug Poisonings and in the total number of Fatal Drug Poisonings.  The total number of drug poisoning fatalities increased from 22 in 2019 to 43 in 2021.  The percent of those drug poisoning fatalities related specifically to opioids was 45% in 2019, 50% in 2020 and 46% in 2021.  The number and percent of deaths specifically involving fentanyl within the opioid category increased each year.  In 2019 three out 10, or 33% of the opioid deaths involved fentanyl.  In 2020 that increased to 13 out of 20 or 65% of opioid related deaths specifically involving fentanyl.  And in 2021 while the number of opioid related deaths remained level at 20, there were 19 fentanyl related deaths – 95%. 

* Number could change, based on incoming toxicology reports.
Source:  Lincoln Police Department, April 2022