How Data Can Help in the Fight Against the Opioid Epidemic in the United States
Type
Policy Brief or Report
Year
2019
Level
City or Town, National, State
State(s)
All States
Policy Areas
Data & Technology, Health
One of the largest obstacles in the fight against the opioid epidemic is that it has until recently been difficult to measure the epidemic due to the lack of comprehensive data. However, data can be an invaluable tool in the fight against the opioid epidemic. This report examines four key areas where data has the greatest potential to help: ensuring health care providers properly prescribe opioids; identifying risk factors for prescription opioid abuse; scrutinizing the prescription opioid supply chain; and improving intervention effectiveness. Within each category, this report provides recommendations federal, state, and local governments can take to better leverage data to help address problems related to the abuse of prescription opioids.