Randolph County has experienced a 125% increase in drug poisoning deaths since 2018.  Additionally, Randolph County has seen a significant rise in drug poisoning deaths due to fentanyl per the NC Office of Chief Medical Examiner.  Randolph County had the highest rate of fentanyl-positive deaths among counties with >4 deaths in 2022 (56.7 per 100,000; 82 fentanyl-positive deaths).

In previous years, accessing naloxone consistently was challenging due to budget constraints, state and organization policies, and stigma.  As community awareness of opioid-related drug poisonings has increased, naloxone access has expanded.  Organizations serving populations at risk of experiencing drug poisoning have added naloxone distribution to their menu of services.

Community Hope Alliance, Daymark Recovery Services, Keaton's Place, Morse Clinic of Asheboro, Randolph County Public Health, Randolph County Sheriff's Office Detention Center  

Providing low-barrier access to naloxone kits for populations at risk of experiencing an overdose has demonstrated a reduction in drug overdose deaths.

Populations at risk include:

• People with a history of overdose
• People with a history of substance use disorder
• People who are taking benzodiazepines with opioids 
• People who are at risk of returning to a high dose to which they are no longer tolerant 
• People who are taking higher dosages of opioids (more than 50 morphine milligram equivalents/day)

https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/naloxone/index.html

There are numerous community partners providing access to naloxone kits through their programs - Community Hope Alliance, Keaton's Place, Randolph County Detention Center, Healing Hands Ministry.  Additional community partners connect program participants to these partners for naloxone.

Goal 1: Assess community acceptability of naloxone kiosks

1. Evaluate data to identify target areas
2. Identify key stakeholders
3. Determine data collection methods
4. Create data collection tools
5. Pilot data collection tools
6. Recruit stakeholders
7. Qualitative data collection
8. Analyze data
9. Prepare report

Goal 2: Reduce barriers to accessing naloxone kits and overdose prevention tools

1. Evaluate data to identify target areas
2. Using qualitative data, select locations for kiosks
3. Develop MOU template for kiosk sites
4. Outreach to potential sites
5. Develop weather-proof care with resources
6. Develop survey tool for kiosks
7. Pilot survey tool
8. Develop communications
9. Establish inventory/restock schedule
10. Develop data collection tool
11. Train staff/volunteers on data collection

Goal 3: Increase capacity of business owners to reverse an overdose

1. Form outreach team
2. Develop communications materials
3. Train outreach team
4. Outreach to business owners
5. Provide training to business staff
6. Provide overdose reversal supplies to businesses
7. Develop data collection tool
8. Train business staff on reporting naloxone use