Heller School Opioid Research Collaborative collects drug supply data

■ The goal of the project is to create better informed public health and safety policies.

By AMANDA CHEN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The Heller School for Social Policy and Management’s Opioid Policy Research Collaborative provides a space for researchers to pursue projects that are broadly connected to opioids. One innovation that has come out of the OPRC is Director Traci C. Green and her team’s work on changing methods to collect data on the drug supply to create better informed policies.

The Massachusetts Drug Supply Data Stream falls under the OPRC and was created to study the local illicit drug supply to better inform public health and public safety policies. MADDS provides a free website and app called StreetCheck that is designed “to develop and standardize sample collection and reporting for community drug checking programs.” The StreetCheck app helps programs with their community drug checking activities and can be tailored to a specific drug checking program and lab partner arrangement. StreetCheck started in Massachusetts, grew to more locations in the Northeast, and is open to collaborating with communities all over the country.

MADDS is a “state-funded collaboration,” according to the StreetCheck website, “between Brandeis University researchers, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, various town police departments and local community partners.” MADDS includes an advisory board that analyzes drug trends, produces actions based on the data, and advises on to whom these communications should be sent to. The Harm Reduction Commission, established in August 2018 by former Gov. Charlie Baker (D-MA), addresses substance use disorder by making recommendations on harm reduction opportunities. MADDS is part of the state’s response to the commission’s suggestions.

MADDS’ first trial run in 2019 started in Boston and New Bedford and has since expanded to Quincy, Lynn, Greenfield, Brockton,

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