Relay: A Peer-Delivered Emergency Department–Based Response to Nonfatal Opioid Overdose

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Authors

Alice E. Welch · New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Angela Jeffers · New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Bennett Allen · New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Denise Paone · New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Hillary V. Kunins · New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Abstract

Relay, a peer-delivered response to nonfatal opioid overdoses, provides overdose prevention education, naloxone, support, and linkage to care to opioid overdose survivors for 90 days after an overdose event. From June 2017 to December 2018, Relay operated in seven New York City emergency departments and enrolled 649 of the 876 eligible individuals seen (74%). Preliminary data show high engagement, primarily among individuals not touched by harm reduction or naloxone distribution networks. Relay is a novel and replicable response to the opioid epidemic.

Topics & Keywords

Opioid Use Disorder Treatment HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Good health and well-being

Publication Details

Published in: American Journal of Public Health

Volume 109, Issue 10, pp. 1392-1395

DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2019.305202

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 5.50