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Indiana University’s Prevention Insights has partnered with the Allen County Department of Health to expand overdose prevention efforts and strengthen community readiness across Allen County. With support from the Indiana University Foundation, the Citizen Opioid Responders (COR) program has expanded across all nine Indiana University campuses, including IU Fort Wayne, and into communities across the state. This funding also supported the installation of two NaloxBox units on the IU Fort Wayne campus, increasing access to naloxone for students, faculty, staff and visitors.

“At IU Fort Wayne, our mission is grounded in advancing the health of our community while preparing the next generation of health professionals. Initiatives like COR align directly with that purpose,” said Dr. Deborah Garrison, Vice Chancellor and Dean.

In addition, the COR program is available at no cost to individuals who live or work in Allen 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, Allen County residents and workers who complete the COR training can present their certificate of completion to receive naloxone at no cost from the Allen County Health Department.

"Our trusted partners help us deliver services every day to promote and protect public health in Allen County, and this partnership with the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington expands those efforts to include citizens who can assist in providing life-saving naloxone to those who need it," said Mindy Waldron, Allen County Department of Health Administrator.

Over the last 20 months, the COR project has prepared more than 1,300 Hoosiers to respond confidently to overdose emergencies. Allen County is one of 10 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

About Prevention Insights:

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.

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