Social Network Overdose Prevention and Education Intervention

A Social Diffusion Fatal Overdose Prevention Intervention: Assessing the Effectiveness of People Who Use Opioids as Peer Educators in Training Using & Non-using Networks on Overdose & Stigma Reduction

The purpose of this study is to test a social intervention focused on overdose prevention and care. In the investigators prior work, the investigators have shown that people who use opioids (PWUO) can be effective peer educators (PEs).

The purpose of this study is to test a social intervention focused on overdose prevention and care. In the investigators prior work, the investigators have shown that people who use opioids (PWUO) can be effective peer educators (PEs). The investigators have utilized PEs for overdose prevention in interventions that have focused on training network members who use drugs to respond to an overdose. Yet, many overdoses are witnessed by people who do not use drugs. Additionally, many PWUO report using drugs at home and living with someone who does not use drugs, which highlights the importance of training non-using network members on overdose response. Based on pilot data, the investigators propose expanding an overdose peer education intervention to focus on non-using network members. The intervention seeks to prepare network members to respond to an overdose and normalize discussions about overdose prevention planning between index PWUO and non-using network members. The intervention condition consists of 3 individual sessions focused on overdose prevention and response. This condition is designed to train index study participants to be Peer Educators. In addition to the three sessions, the non-drug using network member will be offered one session. The control condition is only 1 session focused on overdose prevention and response. Both intervention and control participants will invite social network members to take part in data collection activities

Inclusion Criteria:

• self-reported illicit opioid use at least 2 times in the past two weeks;
• age 18 and older;
• living in the Baltimore metropolitan region;
• willing to engage in peer education; and
• having and willing to recruit at least one non-using network member.

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants without the cognitive ability to provide informed consent and have the physical ability to participate in in-person intervention sessions.