What does “touchless” naloxone distribution refer to?
- Providing naloxone training and supplies in ways that do not require meeting in person
- Looking beyond traditional spaces—substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facilities, county health departments, libraries, etc.—to expand access
How can touchless distribution be helpful in rural communities?
- Reduce the need to travel distances to get trained and obtain naloxone
- Offer privacy and anonymity to individuals who may be reluctant to seek training in public spaces
How does remote training work?
- Drawing on learning from train-the-trainer, SAMHSA’s toolkit, state guidance, and ready-made resources available from states and harm reduction groups
- Flexible format communities can fit to their needs and resources, with methods such as:
- Online training: e.g., bulleted text, images, brochures, recorded video, or video call
- Communication by phone/text and brochures
- Built-in mechanism to confirm understanding of material: e.g., live questions or online form
How does touchless distribution work?
- Mailing naloxone: e.g., working with NEXT Distro, which has state-specific information
- Drive-through at pharmacy or mailed from pharmacy
- Vending machines, housings, or boxes in convenient locations
- Home delivery/drop-off
Who can provide information about laws, strategies, and operations?
- Be sure to check with your state and local health departments for the most up-to-date information.
- Consult with Harm Reduction Coalition or statewide/local harm reduction groups.
- Contact UR Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence Program Assistance at URMedicine_Recovery@URMC.Rochester.edu or 1-844-263-8762/1-844-COE-URMC.
Updated March 2023