Fighting Drugs With Data: Montco Gets $1 Million Grant

NORRISTOWN, PA — Montgomery County has received a $1 million grant to create a "data-driven surveillance system" which will analyze drug use patterns to identify potential victims.

The three-year grant was awarded by the federal Office of Justice Programs.

"This grant gives us a valuable data-driven tool that will help save lives and combat the stigma surrounding substance use disorder," Val Arkoosh, the chair of the Montgomery County Commissioners, said in a statement.

It will be operated by a new multi-disciplinary group which includes law enforcement, health care groups, and social service agencies. Data will be gathered online and access will be granted to all agencies in planning their response to the overdose epidemic.

The grant will cover the cost of hiring a project manager, data analyst, and technician to run the System.

Opioid overdose deaths rose 40 percent from 2015 to 2017, but have declined slightly from 2017 into 2018. There were 249 overdose deaths in 2016, 245 in 2017, and 114 in the first half of 2018, according to county statistics.

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