Allen, Bennett and Urmanche, Adelya and Curtis, Brenda and Fisher, Celia (2026) Ethical challenges and opportunities for integrating predictive analytics in community-based overdose prevention. Lancet Regional Health. Americas, 55, 101345. DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2025.101345.
External website: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanam/article/P...
As predictive analytics become more widely integrated into local public health responses to the United States overdose epidemic, community-based substance use service providers have begun to adopt machine learning-based predictive tools to guide the allocation and delivery of overdose prevention services. While these tools hold promise for anticipating community overdose risk and enhancing the efficiency of overdose prevention resource distribution, outreach, and education efforts, their use in community settings raises substantial ethical and practical challenges. In this Viewpoint, we examine the application of predictive analytics to community-based overdose prevention through a public health ethics lens, drawing on principles of distributive justice, transparency, community participation, and implementation readiness. We outline five key ethical considerations for developers (i.e., institutional responsibility, oversimplification of complex social realities, data and algorithmic bias, community displacement in decision making, and equity trade-offs) and corresponding practical challenges for service providers. We offer five recommendations for developers, public health authorities, and frontline organizations to overcome challenges and ensure responsible, equity-driven implementation. As data-driven approaches to overdose prevention proliferate, ethical and participatory frameworks will be essential to ensure predictive tools strengthen, rather than undermine, community trust and health equity.
B Substances > Opioids (opiates) > Opioid product > Naloxone
G Health and disease > Substance use disorder (addiction) > Drug use disorder > Drug intoxication > Poisoning (overdose)
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Harm reduction > Substance use harm reduction
L Social psychology and related concepts > Interpersonal interaction and group dynamics > Peer relations / social networks / connection
MA-ML Social science, culture and community > Community action > Community involvement
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Policy > Policy on substance use > Harm reduction policy
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Social services > Outreach
R Research > Research ethics
VA Geographic area > United States
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