Use Opioid Epidemic Outreach

The Opioid Epidemic Outreach solution delivers a set of capabilities that help you inventory prevention and treatment resources, communicate the severity of the epidemic, and promote resources available to those in need.

In this topic, you’ll learn how to use the solution by assuming the role of a user and performing the workflows below.

Note:

Use your organization's data or configured apps to follow these workflows.

Inventory opioid resources

Resources to address the opioid epidemic in a community can often change. New providers become available, or operating hours and contact information at certain facilities change over time. This can make it challenging for residents in your community to know where to find accurate information. A variety of opioid resources can be added to your inventory and shared with the public. The Opioid Resource Inventory app can be used by health and human services agencies to inventory health resources that will be shared with the public.

In this workflow, you will assume the role of a staff member in the health and human services agency. You have been asked to inventory known opioid resources, such as alternative medicine providers, naloxone distribution locations, sharps disposal locations, drug drop-off locations, addiction treatment facilities, and homelessness services in the community.

1. In a browser, sign in to your ArcGIS organization and browse to the Opioid Resource Inventory app.
2. From the item page, click View.
3. In the left panel, click Edit. In the Editor panel, scroll through the list of available opioid resource types or use the Create features search text box to locate the resource type.
4. Click an opioid resource symbol, and then click the resource's location on the map to place the point.
5. In the Create features panel, complete the form with details about the resource and click Create.
6. To edit an existing resource location, click Select in the Editor panel, and then click the resource on the map.
7. Make any necessary changes in the form, and click Update.
8. Repeat steps 3 through 7 for each opioid resource that you want to add to your inventory.

Review Opioid Epidemic Outreach destination

Improving outcomes with the opioid epidemic starts at the community level and requires transparent public education to provide information about the status of the dangers in your area. In addition to receiving education about the current state of overdoses in your area, the public needs to find information about prevention, treatment, and harm reduction to assist those who are seeking help.

In this workflow, you will assume the role of a resident in the community. You are interested in background information about the epidemic in the community, as well as prevention, treatment, and harm reduction efforts.

1. Sign in to your ArcGIS organization and browse to the Opioid Epidemic Outreach site.
2. Review the Opioid Epidemic Outreach site and the Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, and Harm Reduction focus areas.
3. Scroll to the Overdose Locations section.

   The overdoses data is aggregated to a boundary, such as a hexbin, or a jurisdictional boundary, such as a city ward. These generalized areas help preserve anonymity and highlight focus areas to align prevention efforts.

4. Scroll to the How Are We Doing? section.

   The dashboard represents key demographic information and trends to assist in targeting prevention efforts.

5. Review the Opioid Epidemic Outreach site for information about breaking the stigma, frequently asked questions, and partner agencies.

Report drug paraphernalia

Unfortunately, with the epidemic, communities have seen an increase in needles and other drug paraphernalia left in public places. This problem creates an unsafe environment and often requires specialized equipment for pickup and disposal. Identifying these areas also allows communities to help identify areas to target placement of sharps disposal or other prevention efforts.

In this workflow, you will assume the role of a concerned resident in the community. You have noticed needles or other drug paraphernalia in the community and want to submit a report so they can be disposed of properly.

1. In a browser, go to the Opioid Epidemic Outreach site.
2. Scroll to the If you see needles or other drug paraphernalia in the community, report it. section.
3. Click the Report It! button.
4. Complete the Drug Paraphernalia Reporter form and click Submit.

Explore prevention efforts

Many people do not recognize the harm posed by opioids. You can add information to help the community understand roles they can play in prevention, such as disposing of unused medications and looking at alternative pain-management options.

In this workflow, you will assume the role of a resident who wants to learn more about treatment and recovery efforts in the community and how to locate alternative pain-management, drug drop-off boxes, and sharps disposal locations.

Locate a drug drop-off box

First, you will locate the nearest drug drop-off box.

1. At the top of the Opioid Epidemic Outreach site, click Prevention.
2. Scroll to the Locate Drop Boxes section.
3. Click Locate drop box.

   The Drug Drop off Locator app appears.

4. Type an address in the search field or click Search this area and press Enter.
5. In the search results, examine the first returned drop box.
6. Close the Drug Drop off Locator app.

Identify alternative pain-management locations

Now, you will identify alternative pain-management locations.

1. Scroll to the Locate Alternative Pain Management section.
2. Click Locate provider.

   The Pain Management Locator  app appears.

3. Type an address in the search field or click Search this area and press Enter.
4. In the search results, examine the first alternative pain-management provider.
5. Close the Pain Management Locator  app.

Find treatment and recovery information

People do recover and the importance of recovery programs cannot be emphasized enough. However, understanding what treatment options are available in the community can be a challenge.

In this workflow, you will assume the role of a resident in the community who wants to learn more about local treatment and recovery efforts and how to locate treatment providers.

1. At the top of the Opioid Epidemic Outreach site, click Treatment and Recovery.
2. Scroll to the Locate Treatment Providers section.
3. Click Locate provider.

   The Opioid Treatment Locator app appears.

4. Type an address in the search field or click Search this area and press Enter.
5. In the search results, examine the first returned treatment location.
6. Click the Filter button and check various check boxes to filter the map by payment, services offered, and type.
7. Close the Opioid Treatment Locator app.

Review harm reduction information

Harm reduction is about meeting people where they are and focusing on several strategies, such as safe and managed use in addition to abstinence. Naloxone is an important tool in harm reduction that has saved thousands of lives when an overdose occurs, and it is recommended to be carried by anyone taking opioids and their loved ones.

In this workflow, you will assume the role of a resident wanting to learn more about harm reduction efforts in the community and how to locate naloxone. To locate naloxone in the community, complete the following steps:

1. At the top of the Opioid Epidemic Outreach site, click Harm Reduction.
2. Scroll to the Locate Naloxone section.
3. Click Locate naloxone.

   The Naloxone Locator app appears.

4. Type an address in the search field or click Search this area and press Enter.
5. In the search results, examine the first returned naloxone location.
6. Close the Naloxone Locator app.

Manage drug paraphernalia reports

As residents report needles or other drug paraphernalia in their community, these reports must be assigned to people who are equipped to dispose of needles properly and accurately keep track of progress of the reports.

In this workflow, you will assume the role of a staff member in the health and human services agency. You have been asked to review drug paraphernalia reports and assign a designated clean-up person after you have completed your review.

1. In a browser, sign in to your ArcGIS organization and browse to the Drug Paraphernalia Manager app.
2. Select a report in the table or on the map.
3. Review each report under the Information section.
4. Click the Edit button to begin editing.
5. Click the Status drop-down arrow and choose a status.
6. Optionally, add notes and assign the report to a specific person to clean up.
7. Click Update.