Working Together to Reduce Prescription Drug Abuse and Overdose Deaths

Lead:  Tina Kim, PhD

Key Objective 7:
Increase data collection and information sharing across agencies and organizations to enhance safe practices and reduce poor outcomes related to prescription drug abuse

Data is critical in order to define the prescription drug abuse problem and evaluate the effectiveness of prescribed programs and interventions. In order to inform strategy, policy, and action, this information must be shared within and across systems, agencies, and groups. Despite the widely recognized importance of evidence-based and data-driven decision-making, the exchange of data between community partners remains challenging.

The Data Collection Action Team will work across the various action teams to:

• Assist action teams with the development of performance measures that are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to facilitate data-driven interventions.
• Facilitate sharing of data related to prescription drug abuse both within and across systems, agencies, and groups, in order to effectively coordinate care and interventions to reduce overprescribing, misuse, and diversion of prescription drugs, while also encouraging treatment.