Increase Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution

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Welcome to our resource library dedicated to increasing access to naloxone and improving overdose education. Whether you’re a concerned community member, a healthcare professional, or part of an organization, we believe that everyone has a role to play in combatting opioid overdoses.

Why naloxone matters

Naloxone (also known as the brand names Kloxxado™, Narcan®, RiVive™, or Zimhi®) is a powerful medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.
We can create safer communities and reduce overdose fatalities by spreading overdose education and increasing naloxone availability.

Explore the topics below to find resources that may be helpful to increasing naloxone availability in your community or at your organization.

Harm reduction vending machine installation

Placing Narcan® vending machines in criminal legal settings

Populations involved in the criminal legal system are at a greater risk of overdose. People leaving jail are 12 times more likely to die from an opioid overdose within the two weeks following release, and overdose is the leading cause of death among persons released from incarceration. A Narcan® vending machine, or kiosk, is a hands-off, judgment-free way to distribute naloxone with minimal burden on public agency staff.

View the Narcan® Vending Machines Handout to learn more.

Harm reduction vending machines have the potential to serve communities in libraries, shelters, and beyond.

With panelists Chelsi Cheatom, Program Manager at Southern Nevada Health District, Bradley Ray, Senior Justice and Behavioral Health Researcher at RTI International, Jessica Johnson, Senior Health Educator at Southern Nevada Health District, and Derrick Jackson, Director of Community Engagement in the Sheriff’s Office of Washtenaw County Michigan, we delved into best practices for implementation and the challenges of establishing harm reduction vending machine programs, including overcoming stigma, securing funding, and navigating legal complexities. Watch the video and get involved!

A practical handbook for naloxone distribution outreach

The Overdose Education & Naloxone Distribution (OEND) Outreach Manual serves as a blueprint for successful OEND outreach programs. Developed by Kentucky's HEALing Communities Study (HCS) team, this manual is based on lessons learned by the HCS-KY team and provides practical guidance on staffing, identifying suitable venues, event scheduling, materials, attire, and record keeping recommendations.

Its main objective is to empower community members and agencies to sustain or launch effective OEND programs, emphasizing direct outreach to individuals in community settings and at events. The document acknowledges the contributions of prevention specialists, coalition members, and community stakeholders who made this initiative possible. It is shared with recognition that every community is unique and may require different variations of the efforts described herein.

For more details, you can access the manual here.

Learn about HCS-KY's naloxone program

Explore OEND scale-up resources for your organization or community.

Scaling Up Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution in Kentucky: A Hub with Many Spokes Model provides practical resources used by the HCS-KY Team for implementing OEND programs.

It includes everything from flyers, a template standing order agreement, example emails used to communicate with partner agencies, initial planning and training to data collection and sustainability efforts.

This package includes:

Materials emailed to potential partner agencies, before an initial meeting, providing essential context and background information
Materials used for initial meetings with potential partners and implementation planning to guide participants through the planning phase, ensuring alignment and clarity on project goals, roles, and responsibilities
Materials for follow-up meetings with partner agencies, including meeting agendas, progress trackers, and feedback forms

Expand first responder access to naloxone

Increasing the capacity for first responders to respond to opioid overdose was a key focus of HCS. Guidelines for safe and efficient OEND in partnership with police and sheriff departments are being outlined in a guide that covers the process for scheduling and conducting initial meetings and follow-up meetings with law enforcement agencies.

Please check back soon for the guide as it is being finalized!

Recap: Leave-Behind Program Learning Collaborative

Doug Oyler, PharmD, Assistant Professor at UK, delved into the critical topic of naloxone leave-behind programs led by EMS professionals during an HCS-KY sponsored learning collaborative session from March 2023. Key takeaways:

The urgent need: We explored why these programs are essential. First responders play a pivotal role in combating opioid overdoses, and leave-behind programs equip them with the tools to save lives beyond the immediate emergency.
Understanding regulations: Kentucky’s administrative regulations and statutes were shared. Understanding the legal framework is crucial for effective implementation.
Overcoming barriers: We identified common obstacles and discussed strategies to overcome them.

Panelists Tonya Donselman, EMT-P, Assistant Director of Madison County EMS and Terry Dunn, Community Outreach Coordinator with Boyle County EMS discussed their experience implementing naloxone leave-behind programs, including considerations and challenges.

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SAMHSA's Practice Guide to increase OEND

The Opioid-Overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach (ORCCA) Practice Guide 2023, published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), serves as a valuable resource for individuals working to combat the opioid crisis. It offers:

A menu of evidence-based practices to reduce opioid overdose deaths.
Real-world tips for implementing these evidence-based practices.

The guide targets a diverse audience, including community coalition members, treatment providers, recovery specialists, policymakers, and others involved in preventing, treating, and supporting recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD).

Specifically designed for those working to end the opioid crisis, it provides guidance, resources, and insights from HCS sites and subject matter experts. Additionally, the guide features “Stories from the Field,” offering practical examples and lessons learned from coalitions implementing the ORCCA strategies.

Click here to access the guide.