A city council in partnership with local health organizations recognized a critical need to address the rising opioid overdose incidents in their community. With many individuals unaware of the life-saving benefits of Naloxone—a free and safe medication that can reverse opioid overdoses—they sought to develop an innovative solution to educate the public, reduce stigma, and provide immediate access to essential resources. Collaborating with Valorem Reply, they developed the Overdose Prevention Mobile App, centered around harm reduction and rapid response. Leveraging Azure Cloud and Microsoft technologies, the app offers features such as locating the nearest Naloxone stockists, instructional videos on overdose response, harm reduction advice, and push notifications for drug alerts and local support services. This initiative equips community members with the knowledge to act swiftly in overdose situations and fosters a more informed and compassionate community approach to substance use challenges. 

CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES

• Lack of Awareness: Many community members were unaware of Naloxone and its potential to prevent overdose deaths. 
• Stigma and Misunderstanding: Stigma associated with drug use hindered open discussions and education on overdose prevention. 
• Time Sensitivity: Immediate access to Naloxone during an overdose is crucial, as delays can be fatal. 
• Emergency Response Gap: There was often a critical gap between an overdose occurring and the arrival of emergency services. 
• Inefficient Resource Management: Managing and updating information about Naloxone suppliers and disseminating drug alerts were cumbersome processes. 

SOLUTIONS

• Overdose Prevention Mobile App: Developed a cross-platform mobile app using MAUI.NET, available on both Android and iOS devices. 
• Naloxone Stockist Locator: Implemented a "Find My Nearest" feature using Azure Maps to help users quickly locate nearby Naloxone suppliers. 
• Educational Resources: Included videos demonstrating how to use Naloxone and respond to overdoses, along with information on recognizing signs and symptoms. 
• Harm Reduction Advice: Provided accessible harm reduction strategies and advice to educate and inform users. 
• Push Notifications & In-App Alerts: Integrated discreet push notifications and an in-app notification page for timely drug alerts and important updates. 
• Text Scaling for Accessibility: Ensured the app is accessible to all users by incorporating text scaling features for better readability. 
• User Feedback Mechanism: Allowed users to provide feedback to continuously enhance the app's functionality and user experience. 
• Power App Integration: Developed a Power App enabling the client to efficiently manage notifications and Naloxone supplier information. 
• Secure and Scalable Infrastructure: Leveraged Azure Cloud services, including Azure API Management and Azure SQL, for hosting, security, and integration with external systems. 

RESULTS

• Increased Public Awareness: Educated the community on the benefits of Naloxone and overdose prevention, contributing to reduced overdose incidents. 
• Reduced Stigma: Helped normalize conversations around substance use and overdose, fostering a more supportive community environment.
• Immediate Access to Life-Saving Resources: Improved chances of survival during overdoses by enabling quick access to Naloxone suppliers. 
• Empowered Community Response: Equipped individuals with the knowledge and tools to act effectively in emergency situations before professional help arrives. 
• Efficient Resource Management: Streamlined the management of Naloxone supplier data and notifications, enhancing operational efficiency for the council and health organizations. 
• Enhanced Public Health Outcomes: Supported the city council and healthcare partners in improving community health and safety through technology-driven solutions.