SEOW Deliverable Priorities (2021-2022)

The SEOW team is hoping to choose 2-3 deliverables to prioritize in the upcoming year and has brainstormed the following eight deliverable ideas below. If you would like to review previous deliverables developed by the SEOW, please go to our website here. 

Opioid Settlement Funds
The state of Virginia will likely receive hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of recent and ongoing settlements with drug distributors related to the opioid epidemic. Depending on availability of data and information, this report could provide an overview of how Virginia is planning to use these funds, a needs assessment of areas in which funding is needed to prevent further impacts from the opioid epidemic, as well as recommendations for incorporating data into communities' decisions related to the distribution of settlement funds.

Suicide Data Brief
There has been a general uptick in media and public health attention to suicide and suicidal ideation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This brief could summarize patterns in suicide and suicidal ideation data within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, looking at general trends as well as rates within subpopulations to capture an accurate picture of risk, in addition to summarizing existing prevention work and recommendations for additional work related to suicide prevention. This brief may be dependent on the availability of relevant data.

Gambling Legalization
With the recent legislative changes related to casinos and sports betting in Virginia, there is a need for information and data around this topic. Gambling can have serious public health impacts, ranging from addiction and mental health issues to disparate and inequitable financial and social impacts on communities. This report could provide an overview of these public and behavioral health concerns, initial indicators and data around these concerns, and potential recommendations for future surveillance.

Marijuana Legalization
With the recent legalization of marijuana in Virginia, it is a relevant time to inform health organizations, providers, and the public on the effects of marijuana legalization. This report can include information on what marijuana is, how it influences the body, and provide information on how legalization in other states has impacted the behavioral health and substance use landscape. It can also highlight what policies, prevention, and intervention efforts exist in states that have already legalized marijuana, as well as existing marijuana-related prevention work within Virginia and recommendations for future prevention efforts.

Contextualization of Behavioral Health Disparities
When interpreting behavioral health data, it is important to understand the historical and social underpinnings of this data. This report could interpret behavioral health data across the Commonwealth (e.g., drug-related hospitalizations and overdoses, drug use patterns, access to behavioral health care, etc.) within the context of relevant historical factors (e.g. geographic redlining) and social-geographic factors (e.g., rural and urban areas) to contextualize identified behavioral health disparities. The contextualization of behavioral health disparities can translate to more targeted and efficacious prevention efforts.

Youth Substance Use Trends
This deliverable will examine youth substance use trends across the state using Virginia Youth Survey 2019 data and previous years' data. The deliverable will also look at risk and protective factors and national data to paint a comprehensive picture of youth substance use and its context. This deliverable could be used to highlight the importance of prevention programs and addr

Methamphetamine/Stimulants Brief
Use of methamphetamine and other stimulants are on the rise and this is reflected in recent Virginia substance use indicators, including fatal overdoses from stimulants. This deliverable would describe the recent trends in stimulant use and what Virginia is doing to address these increases, such as the strategies covered by the expansion of the SOR grant to prioritize stimulants as a priority substance. Depending on interest and need, this deliverable could explore epidemiological trends related to the COVID-19 pandemic, geographic patterns across Virginia, higher risk subpopulations, and/or serve as an informational resource on methamphetamine and stimulants. This deliverable would serve as an information guide to ensure relevant stakeholders in the behavioral health and substance use fields are aware of the emerging need and strategies to address stimulant use. 

Fentanyl Brief
Use of fentanyl has steadily increased in Virginia. The number of deaths per 100,000 people due to fentanyl has increased from 0.57 in 2011 to 8.58 in 2017. This deliverable would describe recent trends in fentanyl use and impacts within Virginia and ongoing and potential prevention efforts. Depending on interest and need, this deliverable could explore epidemiological trends related to the COVID-19 pandemic, geographic patterns across Virginia, and higher risk sThis deliverable will examine youth substance use trends across the state using Virginia Youth Survey 2019 data and previous years' data. The deliverable will also look at risk and protective factors and national data to paint a comprehensive picture of youth substance use and its context. This deliverable could be used to highlight the importance of prevention programs and addressing risk and protective factors among youth.