The National Governors Association (NGA) today announced that four states—Delaware, Minnesota, New Mexico and Rhode Island—will participate in a learning lab on improving data-collection efforts and information sharing between law enforcement and public health officials as a way to combat opioid overdoses.
The increased use of heroin, illicit fentanyl and prescription opioids has created a public health crisis for states and localities. To address this crisis, governors are seeking data-driven policy strategies and best practices to weaken the epidemic’s grip on individuals and families. As states work to create more dynamic information-sharing environments, better coordination and collaboration between public health and law enforcement officials results in better data collection and analysis of drug seizures, overdoses, criminal behavior and health services.
NGA learning labs provide an opportunity for a small group of state teams to learn about the details of a state program that is successfully putting an innovative practice in place. This six-month opportunity from NGA will help states acquire information on and adopt innovative and evidence-based models for helping inform law enforcement and public health officials about data-sharing practices as a way to help combat the growing opioid epidemic.
To learn more about NGA’s Homeland Security and Public Safety Division, click here.
