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Unscrambling Urban & Rural Opioid Data

Building and linking a data system to allow for the development of collaborative solutions to reduce opioid overdoses

Full Project Name:Unscrambling Data for Urban & Rural Opioid ResiliencyPrimary Community Organization:Wisconsin Department of JusticePrimary Academic Partner:Mallory O'Brien, PhD, Institute for Health and EquityAward Amount:$298,754
Award Date
January2017
Project Duration:30 months

Project Description Narrative:


The number of people dying from opioid overdose in Wisconsin has skyrocketed, eclipsing that of motor vehicle accidents or homicides. In Milwaukee County alone, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner reported 231 opioid deaths in 2015, a 60% from 2009. To address a need for better, integrated data from and for partners who encounter overdose patients/victims, project partners will work to build an aggregated data and connected technology system linking three forensic-centric agencies (justice, emergency operations, medical examiner) to allow for the development of collaborative solutions and strengthened understanding and decision-making to reduce opioid overdoses.

Community partners: Children's Hospital of Wisconsin (Strong Start), CAP Services (Head Start, Early Head Start), Marshfield Clinic, Ascension/Ministry Health Care, Portage County Health and Human Services (WIC, Birth-three program, Prenatal Care Coordination, Child Protective Services), Aspirus, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:


  • Began data sharing and integration between the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Medical Examiner's Office (MEO)
  • Began historical data integration and review, developing a template dashboard for supporting effective use of data
  • Developed prototype of data visualization tool
  • Presented to National Association of Attorneys' General (Spring 2018)

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