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New app helps police track overdoses, drug-use patterns

EAST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — East Bridgewater police are rolling out a phone app that give first repsonders and public health officials real time information about drug overdoses.

The Overdose Detection Mapping Application provides the specific location of a drug overdose, input by police officers, firefighters and EMTs. It also says how many doses of Narcan were given and notes if the person survived or died.

View a larger version of Untitled Map created with eSpatial mapping software.

Confidential patient information is not entered and the data is not available to members of the public.

The federal officer of National Drug Control Policy High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area developed the app, which Arlington Police has been using since late June. It was first rolled out in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.

The app also says whether or not the drug contained fentanyl or carfentanil. 

"It is important to equip our first responders with all available resources to better enable them to save lives," Chief Allen said.

Officers hope that by monitoring the app, they can help establish patterns and better anticipate emergencies and any rise in drug usage.