Georgia Health Policy: A Systems Perspective of the Opioid Epidemic Webinar Resources

The opioid epidemic is the result of a complex system of varied and interrelated factors. This webinar introduced a systems thinking approach and tools to address such complex public health challenges. The Georgia Health Policy Center’s Opioid Systems Map was presented as a case study for the creation and application of systems mapping in local communities. The webinar fostered a holistic view of the opioid epidemic and described opportunities to further develop systems thinking capacity for application to grantees’ local opioid response.

Objectives: By the end of the webinar participants were able to:

• Describe characteristics of systems thinking.
• Describe how interventions in systems may have immediate, long-term, intended and unintended effects.
• Tell the story of a feedback loop in the opioid crisis.