The Sheriff’s Office, Burlington police and county Health Department all recently began using the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program.
ODMAP allows agencies in both law enforcement and public health to input, monitor and track overdose data using times, dates and locations, as well as record information about fatalities and drug administration.
Meredith DiMattina, a crime analysis supervisor with Burlington police, explained that data are entered into the system from police or EMS reports. Personal data are redacted from the reports, but the information is made visible to all regional users. With higher access levels, national data can also be viewed, according to the ODMAP website.
In Alamance County, users include hospitals, health departments and emergency responders, she said. Government agencies serving public safety and health interests are the only organizations eligible to use this tool. The program is free, DiMattina said.