Regional Drug Overdose Data Collaboration

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

The purpose of the Regional Drug Overdose Data Collaboration is to improve public health by analyzing opioid deaths to detect demographic trends, areas affected, and emerging drug trends. This collaboration includes the Medical Examiner's Office, Chicago Department of Public Health, Cook County Department of Public Health, Cook County Hospital, and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program. Each agency works together to identify trends in opioid overdose deaths that are unique to the local area. This has helped public health efforts like access to naloxone, public outreach, overdose prevention education, and resource allocation to combat the opioid epidemic. Opioid briefs and scientific journal publications are prepared that help make the community and regional leaders aware of trends and geographic areas most affected. The Medical Examiner’s Office meets with partner agencies twice a year to evaluate opioid overdose deaths. The deaths are categorized as prescription opioid or unintentional opioid overdose deaths. When the death certificate doesn't clearly identify which category the case belongs to, the case is looked at in detail using the Office's electronic case management system. Investigation reports giving circumstances of the death and the patient's medical history, toxicology reports showing drug levels and available medical records are evaluated in the process.