Provisional Overdose Counts as Policy Triggers

CDC ‘predicted provisional’ overdose counts are already used by journalists and policy actors to describe recent trends, but provisional data lag and fluctuate. Governments should adopt a transparent, predefined trigger framework that ties provisional CDC estimates to short‑term emergency responses (surge naloxone distribution, mobile treatment units, temporary funding) while requiring final‑data review before longer‑term budget changes. — Using provisional overdose estimates as standardized, time‑limited policy triggers would make responses faster and more accountable while preventing policy whiplash from raw preliminary numbers.