A database project providing access to data at multiple spatial scales to characterize the multi-dimensional risk environment impacting opioid use in justice populations across the United States.
The Opioid Environment Policy Scan (OEPS) is a free, open-source database providing access to data at multiple spatial scales to help characterize the multi-dimensional risk environment impacting opioid use in justice populations across the United States.
The OEPS was developed for the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) by Marynia Kolak, Qinyun Lin, Susan Paykin, Moksha Menghaney, and Angela Li of the Healthy Regions and Policies Lab and Center for Spatial Data Science at the University of Chicago. Data is also available JCOIN Network through the JCOIN Data Commons.
The database is guided by the risk environment framework (Rhodes, 2002) to identify more than four dozen datasets and variable constructs across six spheres of influence: Policy, Health, Demographic, Economic, Physical Environment, and COVID-19. Most OEPS data are also available at multiple spatial scales, including Census tract, ZIP Code Tract Area (ZCTA), county, and state levels.
Please refer to the complete Data Documentation for more information about individual datasets, variables, and data methods.
Variable constructs are grouped thematically below to highlight the multi-dimensional risk environment of opioid use in justice populations. In the Metadata column, linked pages provide more detail about the data source, descriptions of data cleaning or processing, and individual variables included.
| Variable Construct | Variable Proxy | Source | Metadata | Spatial Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geographic Boundaries | State, County, Census Tract, Zip Code Tract Area (ZCTA) | US Census, 2018 | Geographic Boundaries | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Crosswalk files | County, Census Tract, Zip Code Tract Area (ZCTA) | HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) | Crosswalk Files | County, Tract, Zip |
| Variable Construct | Variable Proxy | Source | Metadata | Spatial Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prison Incarceration Rates | Prison population rate and prison admission rate by gender and ethnicity | Vera Institute of Justice, 2016 | PS01 / Prison Variables | County |
| Jail Incarceration Rates | Jail population rate by gender and ethnicity | Vera Institute of Justice, 2017 | PS02 / Jail Variables | County |
| Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) | Any PDMP; Operational PDMP; Must-access PDMP; Electronic PDMP | OPTIC, 2017 | PS03 / PDMP | State |
| Good Samaritan Laws | Any Good Samaritan Law; Good Samaritan Law protecting arrest | OPTIC, 2017 | PS04 / GSL | State |
| Naloxone Access Laws | Any Naloxone law; law allowing distribution through a standing or protocal order; law allowing pharmacists prescriptive authority | OPTIC, 2017 | PS05 / NAL | State |
| Medicaid Expenditure | Total Medicaid spending | KFF, 2019 | PS06 / MedExp | State |
| Medicaid Expansion | Spending for adults who have enrolled through Medicaid expansion | KFF, 2018 | PS07 / MedExpan | State |
| Syringe Services Laws | Laws clarifying legal status for syringe exchange, distribution, and possession programs | LawAtlas, 2019 | PS08 / Syringe | State |
| Medical Marijuana Laws | Law authorizing adults to use medical marijuana | PDAPS, 2017 | PS09 / MedMarijLaw | State |
| State & Local Government Expenditures | Government spending on public health, welfare, public safety, and corrections | US Census, 2018 | PS11 / Government Expenditures | State, Local |
| Variable Construct | Variable Proxy | Source | Metadata | Spatial Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug-related death rate | Death rate from drug-related causes | CDC WONDER, 2019 10-year ave. | Health01 / Drug-Related Death Rate | State, County |
| Hepatitis C rates | HepC prevalence and mortality | HepVu | Health02 / Hepatitis C | State, County |
| Physicians | Number of Primary Care and Specialist Physicians | Dartmouth Atlas, 2010 | Health03 / Physicians | Tract, County, State |
| Access to MOUDs | Distance to nearest MOUD | US Census, SAMHSA, Vivitrol, 2020 | Access01 / Access: MOUDs | County, Tract, Zip |
| Access to Health Centers | Distance to nearest FQHC | US Census, US COVID Atlas, HRSA, 2020 | Access02 / Access: FQHCs | Tract, Zip |
| Access to Hospitals | Distance to nearest hospital | US Census, CovidCareMap, 2020 | Access03 / Access: Hospitals | Tract, Zip |
| Access to Pharmacies | Distance to nearest pharmacy | US Census, InfoGroup 2018 | Access04 / Access: Pharmacies | Tract, Zip |
| Access to Mental Health Providers | Distance to nearest mental health provider | US Census, SAMSHA 2020 | Access05 / Access: Mental Health Providers | Tract, Zip |
| Access to Substance Use Treatment Facilities | Distance to nearest substance use treatment facility | SAMHSA, SSATS 2021 | Access06 / Access: Substance Use Treatment | Tract, Zip |
| Access to Opioid Treatment Programs | Distance to nearest Opioid treatment program | SAMHSA, SSATS 2021 | Access 07 / Access: Opioid Treatment Programs | Tract, Zip |
| Variable Construct | Variable Proxy | Source | Metadata | Spatial Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race & Ethnicity | Percentages of population defined by categories of race and ethnicity | ACS, 2018 5-year | DS01/ Race & Ethnicity Variables | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Age | Age group estimates and percentages of population | ACS, 2018 5-year | DS01 / Age Variables | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Population with a Disability | Percentage of population with a disability | ACS, 2018 5-year | DS01 / Other Demographic Variables | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Educational Attainment | Population without a high school degree | ACS, 2018 5-year | DS01 / Other Demographic Variables | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) | SDOH Neighborhood Typologies | Kolak et al, 2020 | DS02 / SDOH Typology | Tract |
| Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) | SVI Rankings | CDC, 2018 | DS03 / SVI | County, Tract, Zip |
| Veteran Population | Population as defined by veteran status | ACS, 2017 5-year | DS04 / Veteran Population Variables | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Homeless Population | Population as defined by momeless status | ACS, 2019 5-year, Housing and Urban Development, 2020 | DS05 / Homeless Population Variables | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Variable Construct | Variable Proxy | Source | Metadata | Spatial Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Trends | Percentages of population employed in High Risk of Injury Jobs, Educational Services, Health Care, Retail industries | ACS, 2018 5-year | EC01/ Jobs by Industry | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Unemployment Rate | Unemployment rate | ACS, 2014-2018 | EC03/ Economic Variables | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Poverty Rate | Percent classified as below poverty level, based on income | ACS, 2018 5-year | EC03/ Economic Variables | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Per Capita Income | Per capita income in the past 12 months | ACS, 2018 5-year | EC03/ Economic Variables | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Foreclosure Rate | Mortgage foreclosure and severe delinquency rate | HUD, 2009 | EC04 / Foreclosure Rate | State, County, Tract |
| Variable Construct | Variable Proxy | Source | Metadata | Spatial Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing Occupancy Rate | Percent occupied units | ACS, 2018 5-year | BE01 / Housing | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Housing Vacancy Rate | Percent vacant units | ACS, 2018 5-year | BE01 / Housing | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Long Term Occupancy | Percentage of population living in current housing for 20+ years | ACS, 2018 5-year | BE01 / Housing | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Mobile Homes | Percent of housing units classified as mobile homes | ACS, 2018 5-year | BE01 / Housing | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Rental Rates | Percent of housing units occupied by renters | ACS, 2018 5-year | BE01 / Housing | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Housing Unit Density | Housing units per square mile | ACS, 2018 5-year | BE01 / Housing | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Urban/Suburban/Rural Classification | Classification of areas as rural, urban or suburban | USDA-ERS | BE02 / Rural-Urban Classifications | County, Tract, Zip |
| Alcohol Outlet Density | Alcohol outlets per square mile, alcohol outlets per capita | InfoGroup, 2018 | BE03 / Alcohol Outlets | State, County, Tract, Zip |
| Hypersegregated Cities | US metropolitan areas where black residents experience hypersegregation | Massey et al, 2015 | BE04 / Community Overlays | County |
| Southern Black Belt | US counties where 30% of the population identified as Black or African American | US Census, 2000 | BE04 / Community Overlays | County |
| Native American Reservations | Percent area of total land in Native American Reservations | US Census, TIGER, 2018 | BE04 / Community Overlays | County |
| Residential Segregation Indices | Three index measures of segregation: dissimilarity, interaction, isolation | ACS, 2018 5-year | BE05 / Residential Segregation | County |
| Variable Construct | Variable Proxy | Source | Metadata | Spatial Scale | |:—————— | ————– | —— | ——– | ————- | | Essential Worker Jobs | Percentage of population employed in Essential Jobs as defined during the COVID-19 pandemic | ACS, 2014-2018 | EC02 / Jobs by Occupation | State, County, Tract, Zip | | Cumulative Case Count | Daily cumulative raw case count (01/21/20 - 03/03/2021) | The New York Times, 2021 | COVID01 / COVID Variables | State, County | | Adjusted Case Count per 100K | Daily cumulative adjusted case count per 100K population (01/21/20 - 03/03/2021) | The New York Times, 2021 | COVID02 / COVID Variables | State, County | | 7-day Average Case Count | 7-day average case count (01/21/20 - 03/03/2021) | The New York Times, 2021 | COVID03 / COVID Variables | State, County | | Historical 7-day Average Adjusted Case Count per 100K | 7-day average adjusted case count per 100K population (01/21/20 - 03/03/2021)| The New York Times, 2021 | COVID04 / COVID Variables | State, County |
Marynia Kolak, Qinyun Lin, Susan Paykin, Moksha Menghaney, & Angela Li. (2021, May 11). GeoDaCenter/opioid-policy-scan: Opioid Environment Policy Scan Data Warehouse (Version v0.1-beta). Zenodo. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4747876
The OEPS database was developed for the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) by Marynia Kolak, Qinyun Lin, Susan Paykin, Moksha Menghaney, and Angela Li of the Healthy Regions and Policies Lab and Center for Spatial Data Science at the University of Chicago. Contact Susan Paykin with any questions.
The University of Chicago serves as the JCOIN Methodology and Advanced Analytics Resource Center (MAARC), providing data infrastructure and statistical and analytic expertise to support individual JCOIN studies and cross-site data synchronization. JCOIN is part of the NIH HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM) Initiative. The NIH HEAL InitiativeSM supports a wide range of programs to develop new or improved prevention and treatment strategies for opioid addiction. JCOIN conducts research to address gaps in Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment and related service in a wide range of criminal justice settings, including jails, drug and other problem-solving courts, policing and diversion, re-entry, and probation and parole.
This research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, through the NIH HEAL Initiative under award number UG3DA123456. The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH, the Initiative, or the participating sites.
Updated August 2021