Improve Data Sharing, Analysis, and Monitoring

Return to Opioid Top-Level Strategy Map Data collection and analysis represents a critical component to community efforts to improve response to drug misuse and substance use disorder.  Data collection across local government and community partners builds knowledge and informs decision making.  Comprehensive, accurate data enables more effective interventions and strategies.  Making certain data publicly available helps informs residents about the scope of the problem and can encourage engagement.   The continued collection and monitoring of critical data provides needed information regarding the effectiveness of a given set of strategies undertaken in each community. 

 

Understanding the Problem - Data Collection and Analysis

A key goal of any effort to address the current epideic is to use multi-sector data to inform response strategies and decision making.  Most communities need to break down data silos so that various public, privaate, and community partners can engage effectively.  This process also increases understanding and fosters collaboration.  All participants need to understand what is happening in their community in order to have agreement about what strategies would be most effective.

Questions to Consider

Substance use disorder and drug misuse are complex problems requiring a comple set of solutions.  Most communities will start their exploration of data by looking at the most severe harms - including fatal and non-fatal overdoses.  Knowing the numbers is important to understand the scope of the problem, but to guide response more data is required.  For example, where are the overdoses occuring?  What are the demographics?  What type of substance, or combination, is involved?

This starting point typically leads to other questions that require additional data in order to identify gaps in services and implementation of strategies to fill such gaps.  Some examples include:

For non-fatal overdoses, how many go to a hospital or community health center?

How many are revived with Nalaxone?  By first responders?  Others?

Are there clusters of overdoses ooccuring in specific areas and neighborhoods?

Are overdose prevention services being offered in areas with high overdose rates?

What drugs are residents using?  What are the trends?

What are the local opiod prescribing practices?

Are people experiencing overdose being connected to services?  How is this being done, and by whom?

Are area treatment and other support services at capacity?  Are there wait times to get in?

How many who need MAT are receiving it?  Does this include the criminal justice system?

Are recovery support services -  including housing, job training, coaching, and education - available and do they meet the needs of the community?

 

 

Potential Data Sources

The next step is to determine who has the needed data, and therefore who needs to participate in this process.  To answer the necessary questions and inform decision making there are many possible data sources.  Common sources and the type of data they can typically provide include:

Local and State Health Departments (number of overdoses, locations, demographics)

Fire/EMS Services (portion of overdoses, connection to services, nalaxone in some cases)

Police and Public Safety Departments (overdoses, drug seizures, drug-related crime, diversion and MAT in correctional facilities)

Medical Examiner/Corners Reports (

911 Calls

Local Hospitals and Community Health Organizations

Local Harm Reduction service providers.

Treatment Providers

Pharmacy records on Nalaxone distribution

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) data

Community surveys related to drug use

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Resources

 

 

 

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