About Us

SR-DDRC Description

The Southern Regional Drug Data Research Center is a new regional data center focused on obtaining and interconnecting large public and proprietary (state) datasets. Through a three-year $3.5 million grant provided by the United States Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Institute of Data Analytics (IDA) at the University of Alabama leads this effort to address the drug crisis facing the US South. Capitalizing on prior experience, it developed a large public data repository for the 17 states shown below and is developing partnerships with 8 states in the southeast to provide data from their states interconnected with relevant public data and standardized to facilitate comparing with other states. These original states are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. In 2023, the SR-DDRC receive permission from the DOJ to add public data for the 9 states shown below, what we call the Sunbelt Expansion states. These states are Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. 

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The purpose of the center is to consolidate information between states and provide intelligence drawn from drug data and research efforts. It aims to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of government organizations, law enforcement, non-profit organizations, public leaders, and the scientific community by enriching their information and facilitating collaboration. The center aims to become the central hub that links data, conducts analyses, develops digital tools and data-sharing abilities, and disseminates relevant and updated knowledge to decision-makers, affected communities, and stakeholders for the broader region. The database will allow the identification of patterns in substance use that cross state borders and that occur between a broad set of drug-related factors.

SR-DDRC Objectives

1. Expand the existing AL drug data repository to also include data from the states of FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, and TN to produce and disseminate web-based, real-time, actionable multisector drug data.  

2. Develop resources for other regions proactively wanting to build field knowledge and capacity in drug misuse and abuse by creating a regional SR-DDRC.  

3. Promote the analytic human capital among stakeholders in the government workforce, community, and other sectors involved in investigations to combat drug misuse and abuse. 

4. Develop and implement a research protocol for SR-DDRC so that research scholars can conduct policy-relevant analyses using stakeholder data to assist in combating drug misuse and abuse. 

What We Do

• Data Repository: We aggregate opioid and drug-related data from across the Southern US, as well as data pertaining to the social determinants of health, into a single, accessible platform.

• In-Depth Analysis: We conduct detailed analyses to identify trends and patterns in substance use.

• Digital Tools Development: We create and provide advanced tools for data visualization and sharing.

• Actionable Insights: Our platform delivers real-time insights and resources to support decision-making.

• Collaborative Support: We partner with government bodies, law enforcement, community organizations, and researchers to enhance their capacity to address drug-related challenges.