Opioid Pandemic Research - Institute for Smarter Government

WATERLOO, Ontario - April 23, 2019 - PRLog -- Institute for Smarter Government introduced the opioid crisis at the Mohawk College Higher Education Analytics Data Competition (HEAD). The Mohawk College HEAD Competition was the first event hosted by a college in Canada to use big data and analytics at a hackathon focused on reducing opioid death. College and university students studying Data Analytics or related fields were invited to test their skills and demonstrate their knowledge tackling the opioid pandemic with big data and analytics.

Five teams arrived at the HEAD competition to compete with one another employing a variety of descriptive, diagnostic, and predictive analytics techniques to analyze the opioid crisis with data. Dr. Steven Way, Professor of Analytics for Business Decision Making, McKeil School of Business, Mohawk College said, "Using technology and supporting data sets, teams prepared and modelled data to perform analysis and make recommendations to a judging panel. Teams prepared a poster and delivered presentations based on their analysis in two phases of competition over two days. We are really excited for the #FutureReady students at Mohawk College."

"The shift from programs that react to an emergency to a transformational pre-emptive and proactive strategy based on data science using evidence informed initiatives is the key to addressing this complex opioid crisis and help reduce opioid death," said Dana Fox, CEO for the Institute for Smarter Government. (https://www.smartgov.co)

"The Institute for Smarter Government is focused on solving complex problems with data science. Artificial Intelligence and Data Mining will help shift Canada's focus from reactive transactional programs to transformational strategies with proactive programming, resulting in fewer deaths," said Dana Fox, President /CEO and Founder of the Institute for Smarter Government. "Data science will identify the predictors of opioid deaths. Communities will collaborate with the resources and skills at hand to address the opioid pandemic with transformational strategies that are optimized for the individual at risk."

Opioid deaths in Canada continue to accelerate with over 8000 opioid deaths since January 2016. With 1 in 5 Canadians aged 15 and older experiencing a substance disorder in their lifetime, the total estimated cost of substance use in Canada in 2014 exceeded $38.4 billion. At the current rate, the opioid pandemic will break the back of Canadian healthcare and first responders in many communities.