Prof. Samuel Warns AI Needs to Balance Utility and Privacy in Opioid Overdose Tracking

September 7, 2022

The Daily Beast asks “Are the AI models ready for Primetime?”. In “How Bots Can Prevent Opioid Overdoses Before They Happen,” Maddie Bender looks at one of the leading causes of death in America and how AI can help through a program called “Hotspotting the Opioid Crisis.” Prof. Jim Samuel weighs in on the pros and cons of using AI to track opioid users for targeted interventions to help prevent overdoses.

“We don’t want to get into a situation where we are tracking and monitoring people and invading their privacy. At the same time, we want to find that right balance whereby we are able to help the neediest segments.”

“Even if you misclassify just one person, I think that would be a huge violation of that person’s rights.”

Daily Beast 9/7/22

Recent Posts

Healthcare, Policy, and the Opioid Crisis: Bridging Gaps in Access

Healthcare, Policy, and the Opioid Crisis: Bridging Gaps in Access with Zoe Lindenfeld This week on EJB Talks, new Bloustein School Assistant Professor Zoe Lindenfeld talks to Dean Stuart Shapiro about her research on substance use disorders, particularly the opioid...

Public Policy and Surveillance Tech

By Marc Pfeiffer ICMA.org, February 1, 2025 I asked Claude.ai to define surveillance technology. In response, it replied, “devices, systems, or software that are used to monitor, track, and collect information on people, places, or things.” Municipalities use a wide...

Lindenfeld & Mauri Find Uptick for MOUD at FQHCs

Introduction To reduce morbidity and mortality among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), the evidence is strongest for medications for OUD (MOUD), which include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are essential...

NJSPL: Ensuring Accurate & Equitable Vaccination Info

By Yonaira Rivera and Vivek Singh  In today’s digital world, large language models like ChatGPT are important sources of healthcare information, particularly for those who face barriers like insurance issues or language constraints. As part of the IMPACT-NJ project,...

2025 IHC Grant Program Funding Opportunities

The New Jersey Inclusive Healthy Communities (IHC) grant program has announced its latest Request for Proposals (RFP) for grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations to advance policy and systems change through the inclusion of people with disabilities to...

Upcoming Events

Event Series CAREERS

Virtual Career Drop-ins

Virtual

Stop by virtually on Mondays (except for holidays) beginning February 3 through April 28 between 11 am and 1 pm to ask a quick (15 min) career-related question of Bloustein […]