Opioid deaths in Central Alabama have been skyrocketing—here’s a new way to prevent them

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The opioid crisis continues to claim the lives of more people each year, including in Birmingham. 

But help is within reach thanks to Addiction Prevention Coalition’s new ONEbox™ initiative. 

Read on for what you should know and how local businesses and community organizations can get involved. 

About the initiative

Everyone is affected by substance misuse, whether they have a relative struggling or know of someone who has overdosed.

Some good news is that many people and organizations are working hard to end the opioid crisis.

Local nonprofit Addiction Prevention Coalition (APC) is one of them.

Their mission is to inspire people to live with hope, resilience and purpose through programs including: 

• Prevention education for adolescents and adults
• Teen Mental Health First Aid
• Rehabilitation scholarships

They also host the annual End Addiction BHAM Walk.

APC’s newest initiative is ONEbox™, and they’re helping bring it to local businesses and community organizations.

Why? To save lives of those overdosing.

What is ONEbox?

ONEbox™ is an emergency opioid overdose reversal kit designed to promote safety by assuring individuals have life-saving, on-demand training when and where they need it.

Each ONEbox™ includes:

• Narcan (also known as naloxone)—a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses
• Instant video + audio instructions on how to administer Narcan

APC’s goal is to ensure these innovative, life-saving ONEboxes are placed in Birmingham-area businesses and organizations. This will allow anyone in these locations to administer Narcan quickly and safely to a person overdosing and save their life.

“Last year in Jefferson County alone, overdose took the lives of 494 people. Each life is not just a data point; rather, each person was someone’s mom, dad, sister, brother or child.

Substance use disorder impacts everyone and requires a collaborative solution. APC is proud of this comprehensive approach involving all facets of the Birmingham community.”

Nichole Dawsey, Deputy Director, Addiction Prevention Coalition

Here’s who is supporting APC’s ONEbox™ initiative and how:

• Specific funding for this project comes from Alabama’s Opioid Settlement Funds. 
• UAB’s Center for Addiction and Pain Prevention and Intervention has provided Narcan for each ONEbox™.

How your business or organization can get ONEbox™

The first phase of the project will supply local small businesses and organizations with:

• The provision of the ONEbox™, supplies + Narcan education
• Staff support for delivery, installation, maintenance + supply replenishment

The first 30 Early Adopters of the ONEbox will gather on September 12 to receive their boxes. The coolest part? They will be recognized as Birmingham innovators.

If your local business or community organization would like to be equipped with ONEbox™, it’s easy.

APC is a ONEbox™ distributor for the State of Alabama, which means their team will deliver it to you and train your staff at no cost.

For more information or to get your ONEbox™, visit APC’s website or email Christen Craig.

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