The South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Behavioral Health, in partnership with the University of South Dakota (USD) School of Health Sciences and SLM Consulting, has launched a statewide opioid needs assessment and gap analysis focused on overdose prevention and training.
This important effort is part of a broader initiative to explore opioid use disorder treatment, recovery programming, and other strategies outlined in the South Dakota Opioid Settlement Memorandum of Agreement.
To better understand the current landscape of opioid misuse and overdose prevention, project partners are conducting a survey targeting a wide range of community stakeholders — including educators, law enforcement, community organizations, faith-based groups, and public health professionals. The goal is to gather insight into existing prevention activities such as training, education, and harm reduction efforts across the state.
The information collected will help inform statewide strategies related to opioid misuse prevention and programming. It will also assist the South Dakota Opioid Advisory Committee and local partners in identifying priority areas and allocating funding effectively.
Community input is a key component of this process. South Dakotans involved in or aware of opioid misuse prevention activities are encouraged to share their perspectives by completing the short, 10-minute survey linked below.
For more information, contact Susan Puumala, PhD, Professor of Practice, USD School of Health Sciences at susan.puumala@usd.edu or 605-658-6449.
