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Overdose Biosurveillance Task Force

The Overdose Biosurveillance Task Force (OBTF) is an advisory group that provides subject matter expertise and input into resources for public health laboratory overdose biosurveillance programs, which contribute invaluable human laboratory results to complement existing non-fatal overdose surveillance infrastructure.

Questions?

Contact us: [email protected]

Our Purpose

About the Committee

Committee Charge

The Overdose Biosurveillance Task Force (OBTF) is an advisory group charged by the APHL Board of Directors in response to the evolving overdose epidemic to provide subject matter expertise and input into the creation, dissemination, and promotion of resources for public health laboratories developing and conducting overdose biosurveillance programs that contribute invaluable human laboratory results to complement existing non-fatal overdose surveillance infrastructure. 

Priorities

  • Promoting overdose biosurveillance as a public health surveillance strategy for non-fatal overdoses. 
  • Providing technical assistance and developing resources for overdose biosurveillance programs. 
  • Examining and determining opportunities for public health laboratory responses to the evolving overdose epidemic on an ongoing basis. 
  • Fostering interdisciplinary collaborative relationships between laboratory science, epidemiology, addiction and emergency medicine, medical toxicology, forensic science, harm reduction and community-based public health to advance public health impact of overdose biosurveillance programs. 
  • Enhancing value, contribution and utility of biosurveillance data to contribute to existing surveillance systems, public health action, partner engagement, advocacy and policy. 
Our Work

Projects and Work Products

Current Projects

The Task Force is currently working on: 

  • Expanding the OBTF Recommended Panel to incorporate emerging substances. 
  • Creating resources for qualitative analysis of nonfatal overdose specimens. 
  • Coordinating with subject matter experts in epidemiology and informatics to inform biosurveillance data collection, analysis, reporting and sharing. 
  • Implementing yearly review process for OBTF Recommended Panel.
  • In response to evolving needs of the ongoing overdose epidemic, evaluating and determining the next priority project(s) for the OBTF.

Recently Completed Work Products

 

The Task Force was instrumental in producing the following materials: 

Dashboard

Technical Resources

    Tool / Work Aid
    2025
    Overdose Biosurveillance Hospital Outreach Flyer Template
    Overdose biosurveillance programs: use this editable template to create flyers to recruit and increase participation of hospitals within your jurisdiction.
    Environmental Health, Drugs and Overdose
    Guide / Guidance
    2023
    Assessing Polysubstance Overdoses: An Expanded Biosurveillance Strategy for Public Health Practice
    Guidance for public health agencies building nonfatal polysubstance overdose biosurveillance programs, including considerations for collaboration, testing and data.
    Environmental Health, Drugs and Overdose
    Guide / Guidance
    2020
    Model Opioids Biosurveillance Strategy for Public Health Practice
    Guidance for public health agencies to develop and implement an opioids biosurveillance program; includes roles of stakeholders, surveillance program design, legal and policy considerations and testing methods.
    Environmental Health
    Our Team

    Meet the Committee

    Amy Miles
    Task Force Co-chair |Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene

    Jason Peterson, MS
    Task Force Co-chair | Minnesota Public Health Laboratory

    Andrew Hunter, MA
    Missouri Department of Health

    Kurunthachalam Kannan, PhD
    Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health

    Alex Krotulski, PhD
    NPS Discovery, Center for Forensic Science Research and Education

    Leland McClure, PhD, MSci, F-ABFT
    Drug Testing Consultations, LLC; Quest Diagnostics (retired) 

    Michael Moss, MD, FAACT
    Utah Poison Control Center, University of Utah Hospital 

    Sne Parikh
    DC Department of Forensic Sciences 

    Ryan Pieters
    Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene

    Amanda Smith, MPH
    Division of Overdose Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Daniel Sudakin, MD, MPH
    Aspire PDX; American College of Medical Toxicology

    Jill Warrington, MD, PhD
    Vermont Department of Public Health Laboratory 

    Kelsey Granger, MHS
    Task Force Liaison 

    Julianne Nassif, MS
    Program Director