Using statewide health data to predict and prevent opioid overdoses
Predict to Prevent: Dynamic Spatiotemporal Analyses of Opioid Overdose to Guide Pre-Emptive Public Health Responses
This project uses linked Massachusetts health records and smart mapping to find where and when opioid overdoses are likely so communities can act sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324521 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project links many kinds of health records across Massachusetts—like death records, hospital visits, prescription monitoring, and toxicology—to find patterns in opioid overdoses. Researchers will use advanced spatiotemporal mapping and Bayesian models that update over time to forecast future overdose hotspots. The team aims to give public health officials and local clinics timely information so they can target naloxone distribution, outreach, and treatment before events spike. The methods are being built for Massachusetts but could be shared so other states can use them too.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People in Massachusetts affected by opioid use, their families, and communities in high-overdose areas are the focus and most likely to benefit from the resulting public health actions.
Not a fit: People living outside Massachusetts or those not at risk of opioid overdose are unlikely to see direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, public health teams could prevent overdoses by directing resources to the places and times where they are most needed.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller local studies using mapping and predictive methods have helped guide overdose responses, but applying a statewide linked data warehouse with dynamic Bayesian models is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Tufts University Boston — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stopka, Thomas J — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Stopka, Thomas J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.