Program personnel perspectives and outcomes of the Minnesota Addiction Recovery Initiative (MARI) Safe Station...

The Minnesota Addiction Recovery Initiative (MARI) Safe Station program, launched in April 2023, provides a self-referral pathway for individuals with substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder. Operating through a coalition of government and community organizations, MARI Safe Station uses fire stations as access points for immediate support provided by certified peer recovery specialists (CPRSs). The program also emphasizes community outreach and harm-reduction efforts such as distributing naloxone and other supplies and delivering training to reduce provider stigma. In this study, we report early data on program engagement and perspectives of personnel involved in implementation.

Program participants could enter a fire station, where a CPRS performed comprehensive substance use assessment and made referrals for treatment needs. We obtained descriptive data from Safe Station participants at intake, including demographics and recovery needs. We collected additional mixed-methods data from program personnel, including qualitative interviews (n = 28) and one group interview (n = 3) to understand perspectives on the program, and a brief evaluation of attitudes toward opioid use disorder before and after an educational session.

During the 18-month data collection period, 174 individuals completed the MARI Safe Station intake and screening process. Clients were demographically diverse and presented with housing instability, barriers to recovery, and substance use. Program personnel expressed programmatic strengths such as accessibility and scalability, while noting challenges including staff turnover, communication gaps, and concerns for long-term sustainability. The educational session led to a modest reduction in provider stigma, which should be interpreted with caution given the small and unpaired samples.

Preliminary findings highlight MARI Safe Station's ability to provide accessible, equitable addiction recovery services and reduce stigma, while identifying areas for continued improvement as the program evolves.