HEALing Communities Study: Ky. leads in expanding access to lifesaving naloxone

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 15, 2024) — New research shows that the HEALing (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Communities Study (HCS) significantly increased community access to naloxone, a lifesaving medication that quickly reverses the effects of opioids and helps restore breathing in someone who is experiencing an overdose.

The paper, published in the American Journal of Public Health on Oct. 10, analyzed results from the HEALing Communities Study (HCS), which included the University of Kentucky as a research site. Launched in 2019, the landmark study was aimed at reducing overdose deaths in 67 communities across four states highly impacted by the opioid crisis: Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio.

Kentucky communities achieved the greatest increase in naloxone distribution among the four participating states. The eight Kentucky counties participating in the study’s first wave implemented 104 different strategies to distribute nearly 6,400 units of naloxone. These intervention communities tripled their naloxone distribution compared to control communities — an increase more than twice that of any other state in the study.

The new study results showed that across all four states, communities implementing the intervention distributed 79% more naloxone units compared to control communities. The increase was driven by several different strategies including providing naloxone at addiction treatment centers, community outreach programs and increasing availability at local pharmacies.

“These findings show that engaging communities to implement evidence-based strategies can make a real difference in getting this lifesaving medication to those who need it most,” said the study’s lead author Trish Freeman, Ph.D., a professor in the UK College of Pharmacy who led the HEAL Prevention Team and coordinated HEAL’s naloxone education and distribution efforts in Kentucky.

HCS used the “Communities that HEAL” intervention, a process in which communities work with researchers to establish and expand proven practices for preventing overdose deaths — including increasing access to naloxone. In Kentucky, a team of more than 25 researchers from across UK’s campus led implementation efforts in partnership with community members, state and local leaders, and public and private agencies.

“Kentucky’s high level of engagement reflects the strong partnerships we’ve built between community members, state and local leaders, and public and private agencies — and our shared commitment to developing sustainable solutions for the opioid crisis,” said Freeman.

Increasing access to naloxone is one of the three primary evidence-based strategies implemented in the HCS intervention, which also focuses on effective delivery of medication for opioid use disorder and improved prescription opioid safety practices.

An analysis of the HEALing Communities Study published earlier this year showed promising results in reducing opioid-related deaths. Communities implementing the intervention experienced a 9% lower rate of opioid overdose deaths compared to control communities.

Researchers are continuing to examine the study’s impact on overall overdose deaths, deaths with specific drug combinations like opioids and stimulants, and nonfatal overdoses. UK’s HCS team also continues to analyze outcomes specific to the Commonwealth, as well as key lessons from implementing the study during the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 and fentanyl. Their goal is to use these findings to shape more effective strategies for tackling opioid addiction and preventing overdose deaths, both in Kentucky and across the nation.

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers UM1DA049394, UM1DA049406, UM1DA049412, UM1DA049415 and UM1DA049417. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.