Programs / Education & Health Equity / Overdose Response Network

Expanding Naloxone Access

Fighting the opioid crisis requires a comprehensive, sustainable approach and we believe that everyone can play an important part in charting a better path forward for victims, families, and communities across the country. The Clinton Foundation works to bring together diverse groups of stakeholders to implement solutions aimed at reversing the crisis and increasing access to naloxone and other lifesaving resources by expanding our work with schools, faith leaders, employers, and insurers.

In 2015 and 2016, the Clinton Foundation negotiated innovative agreements with Kaléo and Adapt Pharma, respectively, to decrease cost and increase access to both injectable and nasal spray forms of naloxone, an opioid overdose antidote. These partnerships made naloxone available at a discounted price to colleges and universities, public safety organizations, and community organizations.

Through its partnership with Adapt Pharma and Emergent BioSolutions, Narcan (naloxone in spray form) is available to high schools, colleges, and universities at no cost. Through a partnership that was launched with Direct Relief in 2019, doses of naloxone have been donated to sober living homes, public health departments and harm reduction organizations across the United States.

The Clinton Foundation in collaboration with Start Healing Now makes Overdose Aid Kits (O.A.K.s) available in communities across the country. Overdose Aid Kits are square metal boxes that contain the following: instructions on how to administer naloxone, three breathing masks, and information and resources for substance use treatment and recovery. In most cases, we can help organizations identify a naloxone source, if needed. By stocking O.A.K.s with naloxone and placing them in businesses and public buildings throughout communities, we can help prevent overdose and save lives.

“This partnership has made us so much more confident in offering naloxone to anyone and everyone who requests it and it has created new collaborations with hospitals and treatment centers that we know we can count on to stay stocked. Since the pandemic started, our incredible partnership has enabled NJHRC to get critical doses of naloxone to New Jerseyans most likely to witness and reverse an overdose.”

Jenna Mellor, Executive Director of the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition

“The demand for naloxone has spiked as a result of the pandemic and the scaling of our operations, and thanks to this partnership we have been able to meet the community’s needs during this challenging time in a way that would have been impossible for us to do before. Moreover, because we have had to worry less about fundraising, we have been able to reinvest our time and energy in other outreach efforts including providing hot meals for 150 people every Wednesday.”

Clay Kasper, Co-Director, Central Arkansas Harm Reduction Project (CAHR) Project

“The Chris Atwood Foundation’s goals with this partnership are to save the lives of people with substance use disorder, help them make positive changes to their health, and show them that someone loves them. Shame and stigma are not effective at creating long term change, but what is effective is a combination of education, immediate and accessible resources, and radical compassion. This partnership makes all of that possible and there are thousands of people breathing today because of it.”

Ginny Atwood Lovitt, Co-Founder and Executive Director, The Chris Atwood Foundation