Equipping the front lines: Building a harm reduction program for Louisiana first responders

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pharmacology
• Emergency Medical Services

Background:

• The opioid epidemic is a significant public health crisis in the U.S.
• Harm reduction (HR) education for first responders is crucial but often limited.
• The ULM HERO Program was established to broaden HR education for Louisiana's first responders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess participant satisfaction with the ULM HERO training.
• To gather insights on the implementation of HR education for first responders.
• To inform future HR initiatives in underserved areas by understanding first responder reception to pharmacist-led training.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated feedback from a single-session educational intervention.
• First responders attended 2-hour HR training sessions.
• Post-course evaluations and demographic surveys were analyzed using logistic regressions.

Main Results:

• High participant satisfaction (88.3%) with educational content was reported.
• A significant majority (87.8%) were willing to refer individuals to treatment/recovery services.
• Respondents from Ouachita Parish showed the highest receptiveness to the program.

Conclusions:

• The ULM HERO program was positively received by first responders.
• The training was associated with enhanced knowledge, satisfaction, and engagement in HR practices.
• Structured HR education is valuable for first responders.