DHS announces new overdose tracker as opioid deaths decline across state

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Tahira Malik went into her pile of NARCAN boxes and drug screening kits to demonstrate what she and her partners give out at weekly resources fairs aimed at preventing overdoses. 

Malik operates Samad's House, a collection of three sober living homes for women on Milwaukee's north side. She relies on Milwaukee County's overdose dashboard to see where the most fatal and nonfatal overdoses have happened in recent weeks.

That information dictates where she sets up the weekly pop-up fairs.

"We're talking about NARCAN, we're talking about fentanyl testing strips," Malik said. "We're talking about hygiene items, we're talking about food."

Malik, who's been operating the women's home for nearly five years after her own struggle with addiction, said she was excited to learn about a new overdose tracker announced Thursday by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). 

"This is my passion because I have lived experience," Malik said. "Over the years, I had suffered from the addiciton of opioids, and by the grace of God, I was able to overcome that addiction."

Samad's House gives out supplies like NARCAN and drug screening kits at weekly resource fairs.

The Wisconsin Suspected Overdose Alerts for Rapid Response (WiSOARR) will provide close to real-time updates for ambulance rides and emergency room visits related to suspected overdoses. 

Michelle Haese, the DHS' director of substance abuse initiatives, said local government agencies and substance abuse treatment providers will be able to customize the tracker to give alerts when an overdose spike occurs in their area.

"It really allows the authorized users to monitor those local trends," Haese said. "Receive alerts around community-specific thresholds and connect to those essential response resources specific to their communities."

The WiSOARR tracker will not be available to the public. Haese said local agencies could use the tracker to alert communities or neighborhoods when there's been a spike in overdose responses.

"That's new." she said. "So, in a new way, partners can collect data on overdoses to inform their work on the front lines in the communities."

Natalie Meinert, deputy administrator of Racine County Behavioral Health Services, said in an email the new tracking system would help the county respond to overdose spikes more quickly.

"With access to real-time data from WiSOARR, Racine County can more effectively identify underserved areas," Meinert said. "And strategically direct resources where they’re most needed."

The tracker's release comes as opioid overdose deaths nationwide have fallen to their lowest levels since 2020. In southeastern Wisconsin, that encouraging trend is apparent.

"We're starting to see numbers trending in a very healthy direction," Haese said. "We're hopeful that the numbers continue."

Milwaukee County reported 656 overdose deaths in 2022 and 657 deaths last year. According to the county's dashboard, there were 298 overdose death in 2024 as of Sept. 3. 

Kenosha County's records show 58 total toxicity deaths in both 2022 and 2023. So far this year, there have been 24 deaths, according to the county's death statistics page.

Dr. Constance Kostelac, director of the Medical College of Wisconsin's data division and co-lead of Milwaukee County's overdose team, wrote in an email the new tracker would allow local partners to reach individuals suspected of being at greater risk of an overdose amid a spike.

"In Milwaukee County, the Overdose Public Health and Safety Team (OD-PHAST) is eager to work with our cross-sector partners to utilize the multiple data sources available in WiSOARR to more rapidly and effectively identify spikes in overdose incidents." Kostelac wrote. "Spotting these spikes in near-real time can enhance response efforts by both government and community-based organizations and can be used to directly inform community members of potentially heightened risk in an effort to enhance safety and reduce harm."

Malik said she first learned about the new DHS tracker in recent meetings with county partners. She said the new data will make it easier for helpers to reach people immediately after the survive an overdose.

"If someone is able to actually not pass from that drug overdose, being there to say, 'Hey, are you ready for treatment?'" Malik said. "Because now, we know where to go."