GEOG 581/HSERV 585: Space, Place, Health and Disease: The Geography of the Opioid Epidemic(s) in America- Spring 2021 Course

Space, Place, Health and Disease: The Geography of the Opioid Epidemic(s) in America (5 credits)

Tuesday and Thursdays 1:00 to 2:30 Remote Seminar via Zoom

Suzanne Withers (Geography) & Jonathan D Mayer (Geography & Epidemiology)

This graduate research seminar explores the geography of the opioid epidemic(s) in the United States. The course begins with the geography and epidemiology of pain (chronic through acute), and journeys through the production of prescription opioids, the geography of prescribing, the politics of monitoring, and the epidemiology of prescribing practices. The journey continues by exploring spatial patterns of overdose, death, and dying, the geography of illicit drugs and public health responses to overdose, and the accessibility of treatment for opioid use disorder. Students gain a rich understanding of the importance of place and space from this close study of the opioid epidemic(s).

In parallel, this course provides students with advanced training in GIS for geospatial health research. Analytical techniques such as mapping uncertainty, web mapping, proximity analysis, patterns and hot spot analysis, spatial/temporal analysis, colocation analysis, geographically weighted regression, and Bayesian smoothing techniques for rate stabilization are reviewed using hands-on exercises, primarily with ArcGIS Pro. Prior GIS training is advantageous, but not essential. Students gain a rich understanding of the geospatial techniques frequently applied in spatial health research.

For more information please contact Suzanne (swithers@uw.edu) or Jonathan (jonathan.d.mayer@gmail.com).

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