Opioid Overdose Data Collection Enhancement Act
Key claim: S5130 expands the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Grant Program to allow states, local governments, tribes, and law enforcement coalitions to use grants for developing and implementing overdose data collection tools that track fatal and nonfatal overdoses and opioid reversal medication administration.
Abstract
(S5130 · 118th Congress) Opioid Overdose Data Collection Enhancement Act This bill expands the allowable uses of grants under the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Grant Program to include the adoption and implementation of an overdose data collection program to track fatal and nonfatal overdoses and the administration of opioid overdose reversal medication (e.g., the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program). Specifically, the bill allows states, local governments, coalitions of law enforcement agencies, and Indian tribes to use these grants to develop and implement a data collection tool, including mobile data mapping applications. The tool must allow these entities to easily and quickly track the locations of (1) suspected fatal and nonfatal overdoses, and (2) the administration of opioid overdose reversal medication by first responders. An entity seeking to use a grant must first conduct an audit of available data and resources and submit the audit with the grant application. Grant recipients must (1) support the development of coordinated public safety, behavioral health, and public health responses to the data collected by the tool; (2) focus on areas in which fatal and nonfatal overdoses occur and trends of concern; (3) provide for interoperability with existing overdose data collection tools; and (4) make data collected through the program available to federal, state, tribal, and territorial governments and coalitions of law enforcement agencies. The Department of Justice must consult with agencies that maintain overdose data collection tools, including the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Latest action (2024-12-18): Held at the desk.
Why this matters
Better local data on fatal and nonfatal overdoses and reversal medication use is a prerequisite for targeting naloxone distribution, treatment capacity, and law enforcement response. By expanding permissible uses of an existing DOJ grant program rather than creating a new one, the bill offers a low-friction path for jurisdictions to build overdose surveillance without new appropriations. Its practical impact depends on state and local uptake of the grant option.