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Indiana University’s Prevention Insights partners with the Howard County Health Department in a commitment to expand overdose prevention efforts and strengthen community readiness.
Citizen Opioid Responders (COR) is available at no cost to individuals who live or work in Howard County. COR is a free, online training program designed to increase readiness to prevent opioid overdose fatality by equipping everyday citizens with the knowledge and confidence to recognize an overdose and administer the lifesaving medication naloxone, often known by the brand name Narcan.
The program empowers community members to become “citizen responders” who feel ready, willing, and able to render aid to someone suffering from an opioid overdose. As part of the partnership, Howard County residents and workers who complete the COR training can present their certificate of completion to receive naloxone at no cost from the Howard County Health Department.
“Every person trained through the COR program strengthens our community’s safety net,” said Emily Backer, M.D., Howard County Health Officer. “By providing naloxone at no cost to individuals who complete the COR training, we’re making sure that lifesaving resources are in the hands of people who are prepared to use them.”
With support from the Indiana University Foundation, the COR program has expanded across all nine Indiana University campuses and adjacent communities. This funding has also increased access to naloxone on campuses through the installation of NaloxBox units, which includes the Indiana University Kokomo campus.
“This project aligns with IU Kokomo’s commitment to serve our region, as well as our leadership in the healthcare space in north central Indiana,” stated Mark Canada, IU Kokomo Chancellor.
Over the last 20 months, the COR project has prepared more than 1,500 Hoosiers to respond confidently to overdose emergencies. Howard County is one of 11 Indiana counties where the program is active, helping expand overdose education and naloxone access statewide.
To learn more or enroll, visit: https://go.iu.edu/stopoverdose
Prevention Insights supports prevention and treatment professionals across healthcare, education, and government in delivering evidence-based programs, policies, and practices nationwide. By connecting research with practice, we help ensure individuals and communities benefit from state-of-the-art prevention strategies that promote healthy environments and behaviors across the lifespan.