Addressing Data Gaps in Opioid Overdose Reporting: Enhancing Systems to Protect Vulnerable Older Adults

Abstract While opioid overdoses impact Americans of all ages, the full extent of the impact of the evolving opioid crisis on older adults remains poorly understood due to significant gaps in data reporting. Inaccurate documentation of drug poisoning deaths—where opioids are often not listed as primary or secondary causes—obscures the real toll. Additionally, less is known about non-fatal overdoses due to inconsistent reporting and a lack of standardized data collection. To address these challenges, there is a need to reimagine data systems that link local, state, and federal sources to capture geographical risk factors. This article will reflect on current opioid overdose prevalence rates, discuss challenges in existing data solutions, and highlight novel attempts toward building better data systems to enhance our understanding of the risks for and effectiveness of different opioid prevention efforts. Texas A&M University's efforts in leveraging its data integration capabilities to link overdose events with specific interventions, utilizing diverse datasets to offer a more holistic view of the crisis and tailoring responses based on regional needs will serve as a case example. However, achieving optimal data systems will require further improvements, such as standardizing data across districts and enhancing interoperability between public health agencies. This coordinated effort, integrating geographical and demographic risk factors, will be essential to creating timely, accurate data systems that inform targeted interventions for persons of all ages and reduce direct and indirect impacts on older adults and their families.