Fighting the Opioid Crisis With Data & Collaboration

Today, opioid addiction has evolved into a nationwide public health crisis. The economic toll is staggering, and so are the societal and emotional costs. Practical health policies and programs are needed to address this public health crisis.

State and local governments, the medical community, and educators are exploring innovative approaches to address the epidemic. However, there are many challenges involved in fighting the opioid epidemic, from lack of data and effective legislation to budget limitations. It will take the engagement of a broad range of stakeholders – including the support networks surrounded those suffering from opioid addiction—to meet these challenges. Success will require cross-sector collaboration, data-driven insights, and effective data governance.

We highlight the lessons learned from a major initiative by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and offer a number of recommendations for addressing the crisis of opioid abuse that can be applied by any state or locality.