Explore the updated TPP Alberta Medication Utilization Atlas
The Tracked Prescription Program (TPP Alberta) is pleased to share the latest updates to the TPP Alberta Medication Utilization Atlas (TPP Atlas). This interactive online tool provides insights into prescribing and dispensing trends across Alberta.
TPP Alberta is the provincial prescription medication monitoring program, administered by the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA). The program monitors medications prone to misuse or overprescribing, with the goal of improving patient care and supporting responsible prescribing practices.
What is the TPP Atlas?
The TPP Atlas is an open-access online analytics tool that provides summary data on the prescribing and dispensing of TPP-monitored medications across Alberta. The TPP Atlas supports prescribers, healthcare organizations, researchers, policymakers, and Albertans by providing accessible data and trend information at provincial and regional levels. Learn more about the summary data provided through the TPP Atlas here.
Why is the TPP Atlas an important resource?
Provides insight into prescribing and dispensing trends: The TPP Atlas allows users to explore prescribing and dispensing patterns across Alberta for several medication classes monitored through TPP Alberta. These data provide valuable context on how prescribing trends change over time and across regions.
Supports research, planning and system-level discussions: The TPP Atlas can help inform research questions, healthcare planning, stewardship initiatives and broader discussions related to medication use and prescribing trends within Alberta’s healthcare system.
Encourages exploration and reflection: The TPP Atlas is intended to encourage exploration of prescribing patterns and trends across the province. While the data does not provide clinical guidance or direction on prescribing decisions, it offers important context for understanding broader utilization patterns.
Explore the TPP Atlas here >
How can the TPP Atlas be used?
Monitor trends over time: The TPP Atlas now includes both annual and quarterly reporting views, allowing users to explore prescribing and dispensing trends in greater detail and monitor changes over time.
Compare regional and provincial patterns:Users can compare prescribing and dispensing patterns across regions and against provincial trends to better understand variation and utilization patterns throughout Alberta.
Support data-informed discussions: The TPP Atlas provides accessible summary data that may support discussions related to healthcare utilization, prescribing trends, quality improvement initiatives and medication stewardship activities.
What does the TPP Atlas include?
Using community pharmacy dispensing data from the Alberta Netcare Pharmaceutical Information Network (PIN), the TPP Atlas presents data from 2021–2025 across four medication classes:
Opioids: Monitoring opioid prescribing and dispensing remains important due to the risks associated with misuse, dependence and overdose. The TPP Atlas provides trend data that supports awareness and analysis of opioid utilization patterns across Alberta.
Benzodiazepines/Z-drugs: Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs are associated with risks including dependence, cognitive impairment and falls, particularly among older adults. The TPP Atlas allows users to explore prescribing and dispensing trends over time and across regions.
Antibiotics: Antibiotic utilization remains an important area of focus given ongoing concerns related to antimicrobial resistance. The TPP Atlas supports the monitoring and exploration of antibiotic prescribing trends across the province.
Stimulants: The TPP Atlas includes stimulant prescribing and dispensing data to support understanding of utilization patterns and changes over time across Alberta.
What’s new in this version?
Quarterly data views across dashboards and trend lines
Quarterly and “Full Year” filtering options across charts
Improved multi-select filtering calculations for patient and attribution counts
Updated dashboard formatting and rate labels for improved readability
Updated methods sections and prescribing resource links
New feedback form to support ongoing improvements to the TPP Atlas
We encourage healthcare professionals, organizations, researchers and partners to explore and share the TPP Atlas. The tool is intended to support education, research, healthcare planning and a broader understanding of prescribing and dispensing trends across Alberta.
Thank you for your continued interest in supporting safe and responsible medication use across Alberta.
Questions? Please contact the TPP Alberta team at TPP.Info@cpsa.ab.ca
