NASCA Press Release: State of Ohio Announced as 2025 Innovation in State Government: Digital Services, Data Management, Analytics, and Visualization Award Recipient

For Immediate Release
October 27, 2025

Contact: Elizabeth Whitehouse, Executive Director, executivedirector@nasca.org

NASCA Press Release: State of Ohio Announced as 2025 Innovation in State Government: Digital Services, Data Management, Analytics, and Visualization Award Recipient

Columbus, OH — The National Association of State Chief Administrators is proud to announce the State of Ohio as a recipient of the NASCA 2025 Innovation in State Government Award in the Digital Services, Data Management, Analytics, and Visualization category for its project, Innovating with Data to Minimize Risk: Preventing Drug Poisonings with Predictive Analysis.

The Innovation in State Government Awards recognize state administration department programs, projects, and initiatives that exemplify leading practices in the industry. The Digital Services, Data Management, Analytics, and Visualization category honors projects that leverage technology and analytics to deliver excellence in public service.

In response to the ongoing overdose epidemic, Ohio has recognized the urgent need for action, and is committed to addressing this crisis through comprehensive efforts aimed at prevention, treatment, and recovery. Teams from the Ohio Department of Administrative Services’ Office of Data and Efficiency and InnovateOhio Platform Data Analytics partnered with RecoveryOhio to launch the Overdose Early Warning Dashboard.

The dashboard is a predictive tool that uses cross-agency data sources like emergency medical reports, naloxone administration, socioeconomic indicators, and law enforcement data to predict when communities may be at heightened risk for a spike in drug overdoses. These visualizations help community leaders, first responders, and behavioral health professionals direct prevention and treatment sources where they are needed the most. Since its soft launch in January 2025, the dashboard has recorded more than 8,000 views, averaging over 1,000 visits per month and is projected to attract significant traffic following increased efforts to market and educate the public on its availability.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine emphasized the state’s commitment to proactively using data to save lives.

“Ohio is taking a forward-looking approach to respond to overdose threats and protect our citizens. This is an innovative tool that uses predictive data and analytics to equip our local leaders daily with critical information to help their communities address and prevent overdose.”

Meagan Guthrie, director of the Hamilton County Office of Addiction Response, also noted the dashboard’s impact at the local level.

“The RecoveryOhio Overdose Early Warning Dashboard has been a game-changer for Hamilton County, allowing us to interpret real-time data to identify overdose hotspots and respond swiftly with life-saving measures like targeted community outreach and harm reduction supplies such as naloxone and fentanyl test strips.”

Guthrie continued, "This partnership and useful tool have empowered us to track emerging drug trends and implement data-driven strategies that strengthen our addiction response and save lives.”

Ohio’s Innovating with Data to Minimize Risk initiative demonstrates how comprehensive approaches to data and collaboration can transform public health responses. By creating a proactive model that helps save lives by providing predictive insights, the project upholds the values recognized by the NASCA Innovation in State Government: Digital Services, Data Management, Analytics, and Visualization Award.

Founded in 1976, NASCA is the nation’s only nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving chief administrative officers or CAOs. NASCA provides a forum for state chief administrative officers to exchange information and learn new ideas from each other and private sector partners. NASCA engages states in transforming government operations through shared knowledge, operational excellence, and thought leadership.

For more information on NASCA, please visit NASCA.org.