Published: 02/17/2026 | Author: Eric Owens

By 2016, Alabama had the highest number of opioid prescriptions per capita in the nation, fueling rising rates of opioid abuse and fatal overdoses.

The number of fatal overdoses was continuing to escalate. To address the growing opioid addiction crisis, Governor Kay Ivey established a data committee.

Why data? Why not establish more treatment programs? Or education and prevention? 

While those efforts continued throughout Alabama, leadership recognized that having better data available could strengthen and guide those other efforts to make them more effective.

How Alabama Tracks Opioid Abuse Data

Alabama’s central data repository (CDR) is funded by the Department of Public Health and overseen by the University of Alabama’s Institute of Data and Analytics.

The CDR pulls opioid abuse data from multiple sources to create a robust source of information for agencies and programs across the state. 

Sources include:

• Alabama Department of Mental Health
• Criminal justice data
• Alabama poison information center
• ER, prescription, and opioid-related death data
• State and private health insurance data 
• Alabama Department of Public Health’s EMS database

Each agency involved submits data to the CDR, where it is converted and standardized into accessible dashboards that are free to utilize. 

How the CDR Strengthens the Opioid Response

Pooling these data sources into a comprehensive set of statistics has provided multiple benefits for the state. It provides a holistic view of the problems and allows establishment of targeted and strategic approaches to address problems

It also gives insight to measure the effectiveness of current programs and keeps the public and stakeholders informed of current opioid abuse and overdose trends.

Additionally, it establishes communication between otherwise isolated agencies. Officials can use CDR data to apply for funding for opioid-related programs.

For example, if data reveals that overdoses are higher in one county, officials can target treatment programs for that area, then monitor the data to see if the new efforts make an impact.

Can Other States Replicate Alabama’s Opioid Strategy?

While the number of opioid overdoses has decreased in recent years, thousands of people across the nation continue to experience fatal overdoses each month. As state officials look for solutions, they can model Alabama’s data-driven approach.

Based on lessons learned from the establishment and execution of the CDR, Alabama’s data experts recommend several key steps to success:

• Make data-sharing as simple and easy as possible for contributors
• Cast a wide net for data contributors
• Demonstrate tangible benefits for contributors
• Develop a strategic plan to ensure data is sharable, usable, and frequently updated

As Alabama officials have discovered, this process provides a powerful network of data that can strengthen efforts, enhance programs, and save lives.

Finding Opioid Addiction Support

If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid use, there support options available. Search through Narcotics.com’s directories for local Narcotics Anonymous meetings near you or call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) today for immediate guidance.