Pittsburgh launches Opioid Overdose Dashboard

Pittsburgh officials on Friday launched the Opioid Overdose Dashboard, a new tool that can help form and guide policies and programs to address unsafe opioid use in the city.

The dashboard compiles data from the Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS to map monthly opioid overdose calls and Public Safety’s responses.

Data includes the number of people who overdose, neighborhood-level mapping, demographic information and statistics regarding care provided by first responders.

“While this is a data-driven initiative, it’s really about using all the resources at the City’s disposal into giving our residents a helping hand,” Mayor Bill Peduto said. “That means cross-department coordination, best practices in care and support, and now a Dashboard to help guide our work as effectively as possible.”

First responders can save lives thanks to their training and the use of Narcan and CPR, Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said.

“But to more effectively address the root of the problem, everyone must join together,” he said. “Having more data will lead to a better understanding of the issues and, hopefully, actionable solutions.”

The Office of Public Health, which was created in June, will issue weekly reports to city staff and partner organizations, using data from the dashboard to help them coordinate an equitable public health-informed response to the opioid crisis.

“In response to the worsening crisis, the Office of Community Health and Safety is committed to utilizing insights gained from improved data analysis to inform progressive opioid overdose prevention strategies that seek to reduce harm associated with drug use, employ a person-first approach and address social determinants of health,” said Laura Drogowski, Office of Community Health and Safety manager.