Overdose Data to Action in States Insights

This message provides insight into Overdose Data to Action in States (OD2A-S) prevention and surveillance activities to keep key partners informed and empowered in their ongoing harm reduction work. This update highlights current data trends, new programs, and resources that help improve health outcomes for people who use drugs.

Telling the story in data

• In 2025, emergency medical services have administered more than 2,000 doses of naloxone as of August 2025.
• Emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations for opioid overdose decreased by more than 30% in 2024, compared to the previous year.
• Xylazine has been detected in post-mortem toxicology results from drug overdose deaths in at least 35 Wisconsin counties. While toxicology results aren’t available for every overdose death, an estimated 10–15% of overdose deaths involved xylazine in 2024. Nearly every one of these deaths also involved a fentanyl analog.
• While vital records data for 2024 overdose fatalities are still provisional, the number of drug overdose deaths has decreased by more than 30% from 2023.

More than half of drug overdose deaths involve stimulants such as methamphetamine or cocaine. Stimulant overdose deaths often also involve opioids. However, despite decreasing numbers of drug overdose deaths overall, nearly 20% of overdose deaths involved a stimulant without an opioid in 2024. This is an upward trend.

Spotlight on buprenorphine data: the case for increased access

Over the past seven years (2018–2024), 17,793 individuals visited or were admitted to a hospital or ED for an opioid overdose. Only 6,378 (35%) of these individuals received buprenorphine through a Wisconsin pharmacy. Within one month after experiencing an overdose, only 10% of patients received buprenorphine. Less than 5% of those who experienced an opioid overdose were receiving it prior to the overdose.

Once started, people tended to continue their use of buprenorphine—for nearly three years on average and with 15% continuing five or more years.

Harm Reduction Technical Assistance Centers

Established in 2024, the Harm Reduction Technical Assistance Centers (HRTACs) help provide support to organizations who connect people who use drugs (PWUD) with harm reduction resources such as information regarding syringe service programs, access to naloxone, and educational materials encouraging safer use. There are two HRTACs, one based out of Vivent Health, and the second based at Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Both partner with, and provide support to, existing harm reduction organizations, local and Tribal health departments, and coalitions to increase access to harm reduction services and support programming to reduce overdose.

In consultation with agencies who provide direct services to PWUD, the HRTACs support tailored community response by raising awareness, disseminating information, providing resources, and implementing trainings and educational programs. Their websites are included below. Any individual who works in the field of overdose prevention can reach out for technical assistance from either HRTAC.

Harm Reduction Response Team- Created by The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), the Harm Reduction Response Team (HRRT) is a mobile harm reduction service. Services are offered to help prevent overdose and disease outbreaks associated with injection drug use. The HRRT distributes the following: drug-checking test strips, naloxone, new syringes, sexual health items. Additionally, the HRRT also conducts rapid hepatitis C and HIV tests and helps make referrals to local organizations for individuals whose tests are positive.