St. Louis Opioid and Homicide Prevention Command Center

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Program is the first major federal substance use disorder treatment and recovery legislation in 40 years and the most comprehensive effort to address the opioid epidemic. CARA establishes a comprehensive, coordinated, and balanced strategy through enhanced grant programs that expand prevention and education efforts while also promoting treatment and recovery. The Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based program was developed as part of the CARA legislation signed into law on July 22, 2016.

The Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program aims to reduce opioid abuse and the number of overdose fatalities, as well as to mitigate the impacts on crime victims. The program also supports the implementation, enhancement, and proactive use of prescription drug monitoring programs to support clinical decision making and prevent the abuse and diversion of controlled substances.

To respond effectively to the opioid epidemic, stakeholders need access to timely and accurate data that provide a comprehensive view of the drug abuse environment. Unfortunately, data on drug abuse, treatment, and public safety outcomes are often maintained in different agencies and are not integrated in a way that supports the policy and practice needs of public safety, public health, or behavioral health partners. However, there are a growing number of models at the local and state levels that leverage information from a variety of public health and public safety data sources to analyze substance abuse issues and identify potential solutions from public health, treatment, and public safety perspectives. Specifically, models such as drug monitoring initiatives, overdose fatality review teams, and New York City’s RxStat Program create an opportunity to bring together stakeholders with different perspectives and different data sets. This information can be used to drive changes in policy or practice, monitor community-level outcomes, and implement proven practices on a larger scale.

The goal of the St. Louis Opioid and Homicide Prevention Command Center (STLOHPCC) is to reduce overdose deaths and homicides in the city of St. Louis. To achieve this, its partners will work collaboratively with engaged stakeholders to create a coordinated, data-driven approach to mitigate this epidemic. STLOHPCC will be acting as a bridge from first responders to additional resources and wraparound services. The structure of the program’s design is built around the National Incident Management System, Incident Command System integrating a combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure. Data acquired from the field, PDMP data, medical examiner data, EMS Data, law enforcement data, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services data, and Missouri Department of Social Services data will all be provided to an analytics consultant for predictive analytics and to help provide data regarding appropriate staffing levels, timing, and locations. Data will also inform targeted interventions and determine what resources will be needed.

CA/NCF