Virginia Unveils Public Data Dashboards to Strengthen Opioid Response

The Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) today announced the launch of new public data dashboards through the Substance Use Disorder Analytics (SUDA) platform, an important step forward in using transparent, data-driven insights to strengthen prevention, treatment and recovery efforts statewide.

"Data-driven decision making is essential to saving lives and supporting communities affected by substance use disorders," said Senator Todd Pillion, Chairman of the OAA Board of Directors. “SUDA will provide widespread access to critical information, empowering researchers, public health officials and community stakeholders to work together more effectively."

Data and analytics play a critical role in addressing substance use across the Commonwealth. The SUDA platform is a strategic investment in shared, actionable intelligence, providing state and local partners with access to integrated data analysis that strengthens decision-making, improves coordination and helps direct resources and interventions where they can have the greatest impact.

The SUDA public dashboards are available immediately with no access approval required. Members of the public can simply visit the SUDA website to explore different analytical reports to support harm reduction, prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts.

Through the new SUDA dashboards the public can:

• Explore substance use related risk and community context for Virginia cities and counties through available data, including all-payer medical claims for people with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) diagnosis, as well as the Virginia Department of Health’s Overdose Needs Assessment used to identify areas with greater need and support resource planning.
• Track drug supply and drug usage trends across Virginia using available data on drug seizures, all-payer prescription claims, the prescription monitoring program, as well as the primary drugs and method of use recorded for individuals with SUD diagnosis receiving SUD services from Community Services Boards.
• Understand Virginia’s response to substance use and the opioid crisis via funding and crisis services using available data regarding settlement fund grants, all-payer medical and pharmacy claims.
• See access to and utilization of SUD related medical services in Virginia from All-Payer Claims for behavioral health/SUD related services, Community Services Boards SUD services and naloxone administration at EMS incidents.
• Understand health outcomes, social outcomes and community impacts of substance use in Virginia with available data regarding drug overdose death rates, EMS substance use incidents, drug overdose ED visits and comparisons with rates of other states.
• Assess the impact of unhealthy opioid use on sectors of Virginia’s economy at the state and local levels with data from the Virginia Opioid Cost Data tool.

In addition to public reports, the SUDA platform hosts private dashboards related to substance use for researchers and organizations requiring access to more detailed or sensitive information. The platform's secure data access process maintains strict privacy and ethical standards while enabling approved users to conduct in-depth analyses that can inform policy and intervention strategies.

Researchers and organizations engaged in the Commonwealth’s opioid response and interested in accessing SUDA’s protected data can begin the approval request process by through SUDA.

For more information about the SUDA platform or to explore the public dashboards, visit suda.virginia.gov.

ABOUT SUDA

As part of the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority’s (OAA) mission to support the Commonwealth in combating the opioid crisis, Substance Use Data Analytics (SUDA) provides the data infrastructure necessary for coordinated, evidence-based response efforts. SUDA was created through a partnership between the OAA, the Virginia Information Technologies Agency and the Virginia Office of Data Governance and Analytics. Funding for the project came from opioid settlement funds and included in Virginia’s 2024-2025 state budget. By combining secure data infrastructure with user-friendly dashboard tools, SUDA enables collaboration among state agencies, local partners, researchers and community organizations working to address the opioid crisis.