Background
Accidental drug overdose has been the leading cause of death among people experiencing homelessness in LA County since 2017 (1). Fentanyl, heroin and prescription opioids are now the most common drugs involved in drug overdose deaths in the United States, and these substances have been linked to a significant increase in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. Naloxone (brand name: NARCAN) is a lifesaving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. Given the prevalence of opioid use and the risks for accidental drug overdose among people experiencing homelessness, Interim Housing programs can have an essential role in preventing death. In order for service providers to do this, they need to have access to an inventory of NALOXONE and ensure that their staff are trained in how to administer NALOXONE. The CA State Good Samaritan Law protects anyone acting in good faith when administering NALOXONE during an emergency overdose event from any civil prosecution.
The purpose of this memo is to provide Interim Housing providers with information on how to access naloxone and resources on overdose prevention.
Guidance
Interim Housing Providers without steady access to NALOXONE can access NALOXONE nasal spray kits from the LAHSA Warehouse. NALOXONE spray kits are available to staff who complete training with the Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) team.
The OEND program is operated in partnership between the Department of Health Services and Community Health Project Los Angeles (CHPLA). OEND offers a 1-Hour virtual training on how to respond to overdoses available to LAHSA providers on the Centralized Training Academy:
The Overdose Prevention and Response training provides strategies for recognizing signs of overdose, and guidance on overdose response including: naloxone administration, rescue breathing, calling 911, and recommendations for after care following an overdose reversal.
Please review the process steps to request NALOXONE from the LAHSA Warehouse:
1. Complete required Overdose Education training: Registration -
a. All Interim Housing staff who will request, use or distribute NALOXONE
must complete training. A certificate of completion is sent to the email
used for registration once the course is completed.
b. Please see the links below for further information regarding utilizing
Narcan.
c. If your agency or site would prefer additional support, please contact Emily O. Andrade, Senior Advisor [email protected].
Obtain the NALOXONE Request Form: Once the training is completed, please reach out to your assigned LAHSA Interim Housing Coordinator for a copy of the Naloxone Request Form. If you are unsure who your assigned Coordinator is, please contact IH Director Jaclyn Grant at [email protected] or Miguel Fernandez, Associate Director, at [email protected].
2. Submit NALOXONE Request Form:
a. Designate team member(s) to make NALOXONE Pickup.
b. Initial request:
Please submit the completed NALOXONE Request Form AND OEND certificate
c. Ongoing requests:
New team members making pickups must submit training certificates with
request form. Approved requestors may submit completed Naloxone Request
3.Coordinate Pick-up of NALOXONE Inventory: The LAHSA Warehouse team will
reach out to schedule a date/time to pick up the NALOXONE kits. The Warehouse
is located in SPA 7. Details of the pickup appointment and warehouse address
will be shared once the appointment time is confirmed.
4. Monitor on-site NALOXONE Supply: Interim Housing Providers must monitor their
supply of on-site NALOXONE and determine the minimum amount of NALOXONE
that must be stocked at all times.
Requests for additional kits should be made whenever necessary by following
steps 3-4.
Please note: Expired NALOXONE can be exchanged at the LAHSA Warehouse for fresh kits.
For more assistance with NALOXONE Access, please contact your assigned LAHSA Interim Housing Coordinator.
For more information on overdose trends and current harm reduction strategies, please refer to the following resources:
