"Customers" are the people whose lives are affected -- for better or worse -- by the actions of the program or strategy.

Customers:

• At-risk and vulnerable groups who use substances and may be more likely to overdose due to lower access to support and prevention services
  • In time, will be at lower risk of death by overdose, once naloxone permeates different spheres of the community, and may also help to prevent death by overdose among others who use substances
• The Polk County general public
  • Includes those who use substances; families, friends, and peers of people who use substances; first responders; and anyone who may intercept an overdose 
  • In time, will be equipped with the resources and knowledge to reverse an overdose; Our hope is to equip as many members of the community as possible, to build their confidence and ability to respond and save the lives of those who overdose

The partners for this naloxone distribution include:

Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reduce deaths from opioid overdoses. This toolkit helps guide local health departments, harm reduction agencies, and other community-based organizations through the process of implementing a Naloxone Distribution Program.

In North Carolina, state law allows community organizations to distribute naloxone (see NC General Statute 90-12.7(c1)). Recently, Session Law 2023-65 was signed into law, amending the naloxone law to provide protection for the prescribing, dispensing, distribution, and administration of over-the-counter (OTC) naloxone, similar to the protections already provided for prescription naloxone. North Carolina has been a national leader in the community distribution of naloxone, particularly through the efforts of syringe services programs and other community partners. The state was also the first to implement an EMS naloxone leave-behind program, where EMS personnel provide free naloxone kits to individuals who decline transport to the hospital after an overdose.

• Annual Progress: Polk County Health and Human Services Agency distributes naloxone kits from its office, through community partners, and through community events in an effort to equip as many individuals, from as many backgrounds, as possible. As of June 2025, Polk HHSA has distributed 108 naloxone kits.
• Missing Data: We do not track the number of kits distributed by all Polk community partners. We received a donation of naloxone kits, in addition to state-provided kits, earlier this year. We passed the donated kits to a local partner that interacts with at-risk groups, but we do not have data on their distribution thus far. 

We will continue to report monthly on our progress with this strategy, and offer a wider progress view in the  2025 SOTCH.