56 minutes ago
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Special to The Times
The Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH), in partnership with fire departments across Jefferson County, the Central Alabama Fire Chiefs Association (CAFCA), the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Birmingham Police Department has launched the Leave Behind Program, an evidence-informed initiative designed to connect individuals at risk of opioid overdose with lifesaving resources and support services following emergency response encounters.
The program provides overdose-response kits that can be distributed when emergency personnel respond to a suspected opioid overdose. Kits may also be provided to family members, caregivers, or bystanders who may be able to recognize and respond to a future overdose.
The Leave Behind Program expands community efforts to reduce overdose deaths by providing immediate access to overdose-response resources while creating pathways to treatment, recovery, and other support services.
The kits provide information about local treatment and recovery programs, community-based overdose prevention services, and other resources available throughout the community. The program is supported through grant funding provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Overdose Data to Action: Limiting Overdose through Collaborative Actions in Localities (OD2A: LOCAL) program and with Opioid Settlement Funds administered by JCDH.
Twenty fire departments affiliated with the Central Alabama Fire Chiefs Association have already agreed to participate in the initiative to start, and several departments have already received Leave Behind kits. It is anticipated that more will join as the program grows.
Within the City of Birmingham, JCDH has partnered with the Birmingham Police Department, the Recovery Resource Center (RRC), a program of the Crisis Center, and the City’s HOPE Team to expand support beyond the initial overdose response. In addition to distributing Leave Behind kits, these partners are implementing a post-overdose follow-up, or “Call Back,” program.
Through the Call Back program, individuals who experience an overdose may receive follow-up contact within 24 to 48 hours from a team that includes a peer navigator, social worker, and community support/resource officer. The purpose of these follow-up contacts is to offer support, provide information about treatment and recovery resources, and help individuals overcome barriers to accessing care. The program is designed to create additional opportunities for engagement at a critical moment when individuals may be more receptive to seeking help.
The Leave Behind Program is part of JCDH’s ongoing efforts to address substance use and overdose prevention through education, collaboration, and increased access to care. By strengthening connections between first responders, healthcare providers, community organizations, and recovery support services, the program aims to improve outcomes for individuals and families affected by substance use disorder.
As the program expands, JCDH will continue gathering feedback from participating agencies and community partners to enhance services and reach more individuals in need.
For more information about JCDH’s overdose prevention efforts or to request free naloxone, visit JCDH.org/naloxone.
