Project HOPE

A state initiative that works with community organizations to expand the availability of naloxone in Alaska

Project HOPE (Harm reduction, Opioid Prevention, and Education) began in February 2017 as an initiative led by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services to provide overdose education and naloxone distribution across the rural state. The project partners with community-based organizations to train the general public and equip them as well as professionals with opioid overdose rescue kits. Training is delivered by staff or volunteers at the partner organizations. In addition to naloxone kits, Project HOPE also distributes drug disposal bags to prevent nonmedical prescription opioid use. 

Some of the community organizations that partner with Project HOPE include:

  • public health and social service agencies
  • fire departments
  • law enforcement agencies
  • faith-based organizations
  • shelters and transitional housing agencies
  • substance use disorder treatment centers

Project HOPE has evaluation forms on their website to track progress and results are promising. Since the project started in 2017, 108 community partners have distributed 24,692 kits and more than 300 overdose reversals have been reported. In addition, the state initiative has distributed over 25,000 drug disposal bags to communities across Alaska. 

Contact information for the program can be found here, a presentation on harm reduction efforts in Alaska can be found here, and harm reduction targeting Alaska's rural and indigenous populations can be found in the tookit here and the video here

Since the project started in 2017, 108 community partners have distributed 24,692 kits and more than 300 overdose reversals have been reported. 

Continuum of Care
Prevention
Harm Reduction
Type of Evidence
Peer-reviewed
Response Approach
Overdose prevention
Peer-reviewed Article

Evidence of Program Effectiveness

Since the project started in 2017, 108 community partners have distributed 24,692 kits and more than 300 overdose reversals have been reported. In addition, the state initiative has distributed over 25,000 drug disposal bags to communities across Alaska. 

Of the 4,822 naloxone kits distributed in 2017-2018 with reporting information: 95% were distributed to the general public, the majority of people sought the kits out of concern for others, and 29% of kits were refills, suggesting that naloxone kits were being utilized in the community. 

"Overall, findings from the interviews highlight the feasibility of community-based overdose education and naloxone distribution, as participants reported high levels of accessibility and satisfaction as well as high perceived effectiveness of naloxone in reversing overdoses...Participants indicated that the process of obtaining naloxone was relatively simple and their descriptions of the interactions with partner organizations suggest that these organizations were able to minimize barriers for access and treated individuals seeking naloxone with respect...Rural participants in this study experienced more logistical challenges, such as transportation and travel time, in obtaining naloxone than urban participants." (Hanson et al., 2020)

"Partnerships were established with the Haines SEARHC Clinic, Haines Volunteer Fire Department, and Haines Police Department for NRK distribution sites through Project HOPE to unify efforts toward combating opioid abuse." (Holmberg, 2018)