Overdose Lifeline celebrates naloxone kit milestone
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAn Indiana mom’s mission to help others after losing her son has reached a major milestone.
Indianapolis-based Overdose Lifeline has distributed one million naloxone kits across Indiana since March 2020. The organization works with around 200 partners that distribute the kits as well as making them available through NaloxBoxes and vending machines. Naloxone can also be requested by mail anonymously.
Provisional data released in May showed Indiana saw the second-highest percentage decrease nationwide for overdose deaths in 2023 at nearly 18%, compared to 3% nationwide.
In Indiana, overdose deaths fell from an estimated 2,666 in 2022 to 2,190 in 2023.
“I think we have to focus on clearly we’ve saved a lot of lives, and without the access, without the million doses, what would it look like?” Overdose Lifeline founder Justin Phillips said.
Through her work, Phillips continues to remember her son, Aaron, who died 11 years ago when he overdosed on heroin. She didn’t learn about Naloxone until after her son died.
Phillips became a champion in Indiana for passing Aaron’s Law in 2015, which allows any person to get Naloxone.
“It’s very bittersweet…I’m really just trying to feel better and help other people not have this experience,” she said. “The anecdotal stuff, for me, is always the biggest impact that people will say, ‘you know, ‘I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for access to naloxone.'”
As the work continues and Overdose Lifeline continues its mission, Phillips hopes to keep the conversation about naloxone and fentanyl going.
“The challenge is always around human behavior and a willingness to acknowledge that this is something that you should be talking about with your loved one, especially young people,” she said. “Getting families and caregivers to be willing to have those hard conversations is always going to be a challenge.”
Last month, Phillips received the Sagamore of the Wabash—one of the highest honors given by an Indiana governor. In 2024, she was also named a Forbes 50 over 50 Impact winner and one of USA Today’s 2024 Women of the Year.
Inside INdiana Business of Health reporter Kylie Veleta spoke with Phillips earlier this year after the USA Today recognition. You can find that story in the video player below.