WAS PASSED BACK IN 2022. YEAH, MICHAEL I MEAN, THAT WAS THE OVERDOSE MAPPING ACT THAT WAS CREATING A DATABASE WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT COULD UPLOAD ANY REPORTS OF SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED OVERDOSES OR USE OF NARCAN. THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT EMS WASN’T ORIGINALLY INVOLVED IN. I DO BELIEVE THIS BILL WILL SAVE LIVES IN THE END, AND THAT’S THE PURPOSE OF IT. AND THAT’S WHY IT WAS UNANIMOUS OUT OF BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE. WE OWE IT TO THEM AND TO THE LIVING TO FIGHT HARDER AND SMARTER. UNDER THE NEW ACT 18 OF 2025, THE REPORTING OF OVERDOSES AND NARCAN USE NOW INCLUDES THE REPORTS FROM EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE CHAIR DOUG MASTRIANO SAYS 80% OF OVERDOSES ARE HANDLED BY EMS. NOW, EMS OVERDOSE RESPONSES ARE AUTOMATICALLY REPORTED INTO THE STATEWIDE OVERDOSE MAPPING SYSTEM, GIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT, HOSPITALS AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REAL TIME DATA TO RESPOND TO AREAS WHERE THERE’S A SURGE IN OVERDOSES. ODIN, THE OVERDOSE INFORMATION NETWORK IS A PUBLIC DATABASE THAT EVERY PENNSYLVANIAN CAN VIEW. THIS LEGISLATION CLOSES AGAIN, A LOOPHOLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. SINCE ODIN’S IMPLEMENTATION IN 2023, REPORTED DATA SHOWS MORE THAN 16,000 PENNSYLVANIANS SUFFERED FROM AN OVERDOSE, SOMETHING BECKY LOCHNER LIFE CHANGING PATHWAYS IN YORK HAS WORKED TO COMBAT SINCE ODIN’S INCEPTION. IS THIS GOING TO MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER IN HELPING RECOVERY? IT IS GOING TO HELP US TO SECURE MORE FUNDING. IT’S GOING TO HELP US TO DRIVE SOME OF OUR PROGRAMING, AND IT’S GOING TO HELP US EXPLORE TRENDS. SO YES, I SPOKE IN DEPTH WITH LIFE CHANGING PATHWAYS IN YORK COUNTY ABOUT HOW THEY’VE USED ODIN OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND HOW THIS AMENDMENT WILL HELP AID IN THEIR CAUSE OF FIGHTING OVERDOSES IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. I’LL DELVE ALL INTO THAT JUST
EMS overdose reports now feed Pennsylvania’s statewide tracking system
Updated: 5:05 PM EST Jan 6, 2026
Republican State Sen. Doug Mastriano highlighted a new law that expands opioid overdose tracking.At a Tuesday afternoon news conference, Mastriano, who represents Adams and Franklin counties, said the law, Act 18, ensures drug overdoses treated by emergency medical workers are tracked in a statewide system. “Our EMS providers are an essential part of our local first responder teams and are often the first to encounter individuals experiencing overdoses,” Mastriano said. “The inclusion of their overdose reports in the statewide mapping system arms our law enforcement and health care personnel with more information to aid them in fighting the heroin and opioid epidemic Pennsylvania continues to face.”The law took effect at the start of this year.”The Overdose Information Network (ODIN) is one of the most powerful tools we have in the fight to save lives,” said Lt. Col. George Bivens, acting commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “ODIN allows law enforcement and public health partners to share information about overdoses and Naloxone administrations and identify drug packaging. By connecting these data points, we can identify emerging threats sooner and coordinate more effectively across agencies. ODIN strengthens our collective ability to protect communities and prevent tragedies.”What does Act 18 do? Senate Bill 89 became Act 18 of 2025 after unanimous passage and the governor’s signature; Act 18 took effect Jan. 1, 2026.Act 18 expands the Overdose Mapping Act framework (Act 158 of 2022) by adding EMS-reported overdose incidents to Pennsylvania’s statewide overdose mapping system.EMS reporting under Act 18 includes overdose date/time, location, suspected substances involved, overdose reversal medication details (including naloxone), and whether the overdose was fatal or nonfatal.Support for Act 18 includes Pennsylvania State Police, EMS organizations, and drug trafficking intelligence partners, emphasizing improved data sharing, faster threat detection, and better coordination across agencies.The Overdose Information Network (ODIN) is positioned as a key tool for sharing overdose and naloxone administration data and identifying drug packaging trends to prevent overdoses and protect communities.Adding EMS data to ODIN and related overdose detection and mapping tools is intended to strengthen situational awareness amid an evolving drug supply and improve public health and law enforcement response.Modernizing overdose reporting through existing EMS patient care records is intended to reduce duplicative paperwork, protect confidentiality, and improve real-time overdose surveillance.
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
Republican State Sen. Doug Mastriano highlighted a new law that expands opioid overdose tracking.
At a Tuesday afternoon news conference, Mastriano, who represents Adams and Franklin counties, said the law, Act 18, ensures drug overdoses treated by emergency medical workers are tracked in a statewide system.
“Our EMS providers are an essential part of our local first responder teams and are often the first to encounter individuals experiencing overdoses,” Mastriano said. “The inclusion of their overdose reports in the statewide mapping system arms our law enforcement and health care personnel with more information to aid them in fighting the heroin and opioid epidemic Pennsylvania continues to face.”
The law took effect at the start of this year.
“The Overdose Information Network (ODIN) is one of the most powerful tools we have in the fight to save lives,” said Lt. Col. George Bivens, acting commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “ODIN allows law enforcement and public health partners to share information about overdoses and Naloxone administrations and identify drug packaging. By connecting these data points, we can identify emerging threats sooner and coordinate more effectively across agencies. ODIN strengthens our collective ability to protect communities and prevent tragedies.”
What does Act 18 do?
Senate Bill 89 became Act 18 of 2025 after unanimous passage and the governor’s signature; Act 18 took effect Jan. 1, 2026.Act 18 expands the Overdose Mapping Act framework (Act 158 of 2022) by adding EMS-reported overdose incidents to Pennsylvania’s statewide overdose mapping system.EMS reporting under Act 18 includes overdose date/time, location, suspected substances involved, overdose reversal medication details (including naloxone), and whether the overdose was fatal or nonfatal.Support for Act 18 includes Pennsylvania State Police, EMS organizations, and drug trafficking intelligence partners, emphasizing improved data sharing, faster threat detection, and better coordination across agencies.The Overdose Information Network (ODIN) is positioned as a key tool for sharing overdose and naloxone administration data and identifying drug packaging trends to prevent overdoses and protect communities.Adding EMS data to ODIN and related overdose detection and mapping tools is intended to strengthen situational awareness amid an evolving drug supply and improve public health and law enforcement response.Modernizing overdose reporting through existing EMS patient care records is intended to reduce duplicative paperwork, protect confidentiality, and improve real-time overdose surveillance.