WHERE DO I FIND OUT ABOUT OVERDOSES IN OREGON?

Below provides information on the different datasets available for overdose counts in Oregon. Datasets are listed from earliest availability of data to latest, with the first dataset being closest to real-time,

Oregon ESSENCE (Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-Based Epidemics)

  • This dataset is based in a system created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but Oregon data are captured and managed by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The primary data provided in ESSENCE are non-fatal, suspected overdoses from individuals that accept emergency transport. Publicly available data are only at the state-level, with access restricted to authorized personnel at hospitals, public health departments, and Oregon academic research institutions. Authorized users cannot show detailed data or ESSENCE dashboards to unauthorized users.

    Oregon ESSENCE dashboards include:

    • Likely to undercount non-fatal overdoses

    • Potentially challenging to identify overdoses miscategorized as other health events (e.g., cardiac)

    • Does not include events where individual declined transport to hospital

  • Link to more informaion available below:

This information has the shortest time lag, with near real-time data.

ODMAP
(Overdose Detection and Mapping Application Program)

This information has the short time lag of < 1 month.

  • This data-sharing program is ran by the federal grant High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA). Only government agencies can sign a data-sharing agreement for access to the data. Once signed, you can both upload and have access to the National Map data and features. Features include things like data filters, pre-built charts, and overdose spike notifications at the county level. Data are available for most counties, depending on local law enforcement’s participation.

    • Potentially challenging to identify overdoses miscategorized as other health events (e.g., fainting)

    • Does not include events where first response was not called, but does include events where individual did not accept transport to hospital

  • Links to more information are available below:

Hospital & Emergency Department (ED) Discharge

This information has the medium time lag of 3-6 months.

  • This dataset will have the most accurate and specific information about non-fatal overdoses presented in the hospital or EDs, with data on all counties available. Data can be requested from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for a fee (see FAQ page in “Where can I get more information?”).

    The OHA has a publicly-available dashboard with these data. The Oregon Overdose Prevention Dashboard also utilizes this dataset.

    • Does not include events where individual did not accept transport to hospital

    • May undercount non-fatal overdoses due to individuals not always seeking health services and overdoses not always being coded as such in the data

    • May not include data related to reproductive health (following recent OR legislation changes)

  • Links to more information are available below:

SUDORS (State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System)

This information has the longest time lag of 6-9 months.

  • This dataset is collected by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is the most accurate source for fatal overdoses. It relies on death certificates and law enforcement data and is available in all counties. The raw data is highly restricted to only certain public health actors. Fortunately, Oregon-related data has been aggregated into publicly-available dashboards by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), including the Oregon Overdose Prevention Dashboard and the Opioid Overdose Updates Dashboard.

    • Does not show non-fatal overdoses

    • Long delays in data retrieval

  • Link to more information available below: