Training Reduces the Impact of Opioid Overdoses

• Overdose-prevention training teaches participants about the impact of opioids and how to respond properly. 
  
  

• Grant funding is helping expand training and making Narcan and other supplies more accessible.   

Many Cambridge residents have been affected by opioid overdoses. Whether they know someone who struggles with a substance use disorder or they’ve lost a loved one to an overdose, the impact of opioids has been felt across the city. To help make our community safer, the Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) — in partnership with Somerville Health and Human Services — provides overdose prevention training sessions that are free. Participants learn about the impact of opioids on our community, how to recognize the signs of an overdose, and how to respond properly. This includes how to administer Narcan, the brand name for a form of naloxone that can reverse an overdose when sprayed into the nose of someone who is overdosing. It works by blocking opioids from reaching receptors in the brain that regulate breathing and heart rate, temporarily stopping the overdose and giving the person time to receive medical attention. CPHD offers monthly virtual training sessions to the public on the first Tuesday of each month from 3 to 4 p.m. over Zoom. Interested organizations can also reach out to CPHD to set up an in-person or virtual training session for their teams. 

Beginning in July 2020, Cambridge and Somerville received federal grant funding from the CDC. An Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) grant allowed both cities to expand the overdose prevention training already being provided. The Fenway Health Access Program and Somerville Homeless Coalition also received support through this grant to continue training people who use substances and people experiencing homelessness.  

Expansions to this training included backpacks handed out to eligible participants filled with harm-reduction supplies, weather-appropriate gear, and other items that may be helpful for those experiencing housing insecurity. The OD2A grants also expanded training opportunities for local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals. After the OD2A funding window, both cities are continuing these services through internal budgeting and will likely use opioid settlement funds as they become available. 

So far, CPHD has trained 397 participants across 34 overdose prevention training sessions. After each one, participants are asked to complete a short evaluation survey, including highlighting what parts of the training are most useful. One participant from a nonprofit agency responded: 

“Just knowing the procedure to check if someone's having an overdose, and what to do. Having a plan together as a staff as to how to respond. Knowing my staff members (I'm the supervisor) feel confident and have the training they need to help our guests.” 

Another participant shared this feedback: 

“The entire presentation was very well done. Covered a lot of information in a short period of time covering the risk factors/urgency for response on a local and global level. I found the context to be compelling, yet engaging, and appreciated the individual ways to support overdoses and the community (bathroom/businesses) perspective.” 

Many other participants noted that they now feel enabled to carry Narcan themselves and have the confidence to use it, along with the knowledge to recognize when it is needed. 

CPHD staff aim to make Narcan and other harm reduction supplies, such as fentanyl test strips, as accessible as possible to everyone who lives, works, learns, and otherwise spends time in Cambridge. For information about Narcan distribution events and upcoming training opportunities, please contact Prevention and Recovery Specialist Danielle McPeak (dmcpeak@cambridgepublichealth.org). Together, we can help reduce the impact of opioid overdose on our community.