Jay Unick Collaborates on New National Overdose Tracking Dashboard.
University of Maryland School of Social Work Professor Jay Unick, PhD, is part of a multi-institutional research team that recently launched the National Overdose Death Pulse (OD Pulse). Funded by the National Institutes of Health, this innovative data dashboard provides real-time tracking and analysis of drug overdose trends across the United States to better inform policymakers and public health providers.
Recent data from the OD Pulse indicates a concerning shift in the national landscape. While overdose deaths had been declining for two years, the latest reports show that progress is slowing. Significant regional variations have emerged, with 14 states seeing recent increases and a notable plateau in the decline throughout the East and Midwest.
Dr. Unick, a co-investigator on the project, emphasizes that the primary goal of the dashboard is to turn academic data into life-saving intervention. By identifying specific at-risk populations and regional spikes, the tool helps direct resources such as naloxone distribution and harm reduction services to the areas where they are needed most.
Despite challenges posed by delayed federal reporting and recent government data "blind spots," the OD Pulse serves as a critical, independent repository for tracking the evolving epidemic, including the recent shift where stimulant-involved deaths have overtaken those involving opioids.
For more information on the project and to view the data, visit the OD Pulse website.