In order to facilitate a consistent methodology for tracking drug overdoses, the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program developed the Overdose Detection Mapping Application (ODMAP); this paper describes its features and uses.
ODMAP enables first responders to log an overdose in real time into a centralized database. This shared data platform across agencies and the country gives law enforcement agencies an unprecedented real-time information source on overdose occurrences and trends. This enables them to develop a more effective response to the opioid epidemic. Agencies can identify "hot spots" for drug abuse and assign undercover cops or use other strategies based on map data. Using the ODMAP app, a responder records basic information on whether an overdose incident is fatal or non-fatal, along with the number of doses of Naloxone administered to counteract an overdose. The tool also includes a form for officers to use in providing additional information about the individuals involved, initiate an investigation, and enter data on the form and type of drugs. ODMAP can be easily synched with an agency's local data entry platform.