City 311 data could predict opioid hotspots

Data about service requests to city non-emergency telephone lines can help identify potential hotspots for opioid use and overdoses, a new study suggests. Adopting such an approach could help cities direct opioid outreach and resources to where they are most needed.

Researchers at Ohio State University found that calls to the 311 line in the City of Columbus tracked closely to places and times where opioid overdose events were on the rise. 311 lines are non-emergency phone numbers that residents in many North American cities can call to get information about services, make complaints or report problems like graffiti or potholes.

Findings showed that calls about issues such as municipal...