Opioid Overdose and Substance Misuse Harm Reduction

In the state of Georgia opioid, specifically fentanyl, overdoses have dramatically increased between 2019-2021. Fentanyl-involved overdose deaths increased by 218.4% during this period (Source: Georgia State Office of the Attorney General GA Opioid Abuse ). With respect to Georgia’s communities, overdose harm reduction can be greatly expanded through educational engagement efforts targeting public health professionals. Workshop attendees will learn about the process of academic detailing and how it relates to the primary aim of reducing overdose mortality and morbidity in the states vulnerable and medically underserved populations. The need for meaningful and intentional harm reduction messaging informed by public health, healthcare, and law enforcement professionals targeting at-risk populations within communities is critical in addressing the epidemic of opioid overdose.

The Georgia Southern University, Center for Addiction Recovery (CAR) in partnership with Freedom Through Recovery, Recovery Community Organization (FTR - RCO) has developed a harm reduction pilot project utilizing academic detailing integrating educational outreach for two specific populations Emergency Room (ER) providers working in Critical Access Hospitals in the state of Georgia as well as regional law enforcement officials employed by the county, city, and university police departments. Our team uses community-placed/engaged strategies which have been supported by evidence to promote sustainability through the community-placed and engaged translational research literature .

Attendees of this session will be afforded the opportunity to gain practical skills which can be applied to their specific service delivery populations with respect to opioid harm reduction. Specific attention will be given to assessment of community need, key messaging, and future-focused implementation opportunities.