Home      Login

Abstract: 

When an opioid overdose victim is wheeled into NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital doctors may call a program called Relay which sends peer advocates to meet with opioid overdose survivors and connects the victim to support services. Advocates offer patients everything from naloxone kits to keep on hand to referrals to medication-assisted treatment like methadone and buprenorphine, and social services such as housing, food assistance, or health insurance. Patients can work with the wellness advocate for up to 90 days. Relay now operates at seven emergency departments at hospitals across the city and will expand to 15 by June 2020. Since Relay’s launch, 157 overdose survivors from the two NewYork-Presbyterian hospitals and 620 people citywide have chosen to participate in the 24/7 program, which targets hospitals serving communities with the highest opioid overdose death rates.

Keywords: Project Relay; Peer Support for Opioid Overdose Survivors

Affiliations:  1: Executive Editor.