Increasing naloxone distribution in Black Communities: A case study

Purpose

Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in opioid-related overdose deaths in Black individuals. Naloxone is an opioid overdose antidote that works by blocking and displacing opioid agonists at the mu opioid receptor within seconds after administration. However, stigma has been a barrier to achieving wide-spread naloxone distribution in Black communities. We provide a case study from the HCS in which a partnership in Hamilton County, Ohio facilitated overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) in the Black community.

Methods

HCS researchers partnered with the African American Engagement Workgroup (AAEW) to facilitate OEND. The team focused OEND-related efforts at faith-based community events, large churches with significant Black membership, and Black-owned businesses. Stigma reduction was a significant component of the initial plan, followed by overdose education, instructions on how to administer naloxone, and why it was so important to keep kits available within businesses and in individual residences.

Results

Strong AAEW leadership with meaningful connections among the Ministers in the Cincinnati Area Baptist Association and Black business owners allowed the strategy to be implemented successfully. Church, and other community, members led efforts and provided trainings and distribution events at larger Black urban churches and community events. During services, church leadership supported stigma reduction and encouraged training attendance. Approximately 640 naloxone kits were distributed in five months. The initial OEND project grew into a larger-scale effort to provide expedited assessments, access, and linkage to medication for opioid use disorder.

Conclusion

Effective partnerships in the Black community facilitated OEND and other evidence-based practices.