COLLABORATE. SHARE. INFORM & HELP.

Expand Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs) Access to Timely Overdose Data

When Recovery Community Organization (RCO) leaders requested more timely information on overdose increases in their areas of responsibility, the Georgia Public Health Analyst (PHA) recommended that the organization sign up for spike alerts from the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP). Working with the RCO Development Program Manager for the state, the GA PHA organized a presentation to educate the RCO leaders about ODMAP. The presentation covered how data are collected, how spike alerts are generated and interpreted and the appropriate follow-up actions upon receiving alerts. As a result, 15 attendees requested spike alerts, which the PHA facilitated through the Georgia Department of Public Health, and all attendees gained a clear understanding of how overdose data is collected in the state through ODMAP. The GA PHA also encouraged the attendees to share any unusual drug use trends, substances or overdose activity from their peers. This feedback would help the state gain better insight into on-the-ground conditions and emerging trends among people who use drugs.