How is the CDC helping to stem the tide of drug overdose death? Elizabeth Tracey reports

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Drug overdose deaths are at an all time high, with social ills, availability of lethal substances and barriers to care all involved. Mandy Cohen, director of the CDC, said in a recent talk at Johns Hopkins that the federal agency is doing a lot to inform communities and medical systems on ways to intervene.

Cohen: From the CDC perspective I think what we are investing in and that we bring to the table is first the data. You can't solve problems you don't see and what we've invested in is an overdose to data action platform that allows us and local communities and where they're able to get real time data on overdoses but also what are those substances that are in the communities that may be more potent may be causing more harm to folks so that folks can react quickly.           :31

Cohen notes that the agency also tracks novel adulterants that are added to drugs that increase the risk for death when used, as well as patterns of drug use in regions of the US. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.