ODMAP—Harnessing the Power of Data to Tackle Our Nation's Opioid Public Health Emergency

As underscored in the report by the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis (Commission), “our people are dying. More than 175 lives [are] lost every day” to the rising tide of opioid overdoses. Tackling this national emergency requires the power of collaboration (including the vital partnership between the public safety and public health communities), innovative strategies, and cutting-edge resources—all informed by accurate and timely data to maximize efficiencies and the chance for success in saving lives. One of the tools to support this critical fight is ODMAP. Developed by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), ODMAP provides real-time overdose surveillance data across jurisdictions to support public safety and public health efforts to mobilize an immediate response to an overdose spike. It links first responders on-scene to a free mapping tool that tracks overdoses to stimulate real-time response and strategic analysis across jurisdictions. ODMAP can be used in the field on any mobile device or data terminal connected to an agency’s computer-aided dispatch system, providing the ability to upload data and view the map in actual time.