University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy tracks drug overdose issue with new website

PITTSBURGH — The University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy recently launched a website, OverdoseFreePa.Pitt.edu, that will help track in real time how 13 counties compare in overdose death rates, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Sunday.

 

The information may be used to help predict trends in drug addiction, Dirk Matson, co-chairman of the Westmoreland County's Drug Overdose Prevention Task Force, told the paper. “One real example is that last year in Allegheny County, the number of deaths went up in the younger age categories,” he said. “Allegheny County could be a predictor for us, as we're a year behind some of their trends. It gives us a blueprint to work ahead.”

 

The University eventually would like to create a site with data being supplied by all Pennsylvania counties, according to the report.