The Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute (BBRI), North Carolina Central University (NCCU), in conjunction with Together for Resilient Youth (TRY), has launched an interactive opioid abatement toolkit to help combat the opioid epidemic in Durham and throughout the country. The five modules are especially geared to minoritized groups but are useful for anyone seeking easy-to-understand information about opioids. Durham citizens have weighed in on what should be in the modules, and the team, spearheaded by Dr. Dasherline Johnson, sought community input throughout the development of the project, which is provided both online and in print format.

The website Opioid-abatement.com offers bright graphics, videos and relevant information for a variety of users, including an explanation of how opioids (such as fentanyl) work and strategies for handling peer pressure to use drugs. Five strong modules, which have been tested and reviewed by Durham residents, cover what people want to know:

Introduction: An overview of how our area has been affected by the opioid crisis and basic information about opioids
Module 1: How opioids work, a history of drug laws, and terminology to know
Module 2: How a community can come together to fight opioid problems
Module 3: Know and learn to utilize information about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and peer pressure to decrease the likelihood of drug use
Module 4: What is, how to use, when to use, and where to get Narcan (naloxone), a drug that can save lives. Learn basic overdose lifesaving skills.
Module 5: Three drugs are available for treatment—which is best for you? What resources are available for pregnant women, babies, those released from incarceration or discharged from the hospital, and veterans?

Major Resources

Interactive Online/Web toolkit. For access to the online, interactive toolkit, please visit https://opioid-abatement.com/.
Professional Print Toolkit. For the print toolkit, please visit https://opioid-abatement.com/print/.
Opioid Awareness Educational, please visit https://opioid-abatement.com/opioid-awareness-materials/.
- Brochures in English and Spanish
- Palm Cards in English and Spanish
  - How to recognize an overdose
  - How to respond to an overdose
For a resource guide for those seeking treatment and/or more information, please visit https://opioid-abatement.com/resource-guide/.

What Is the Communiversity?

The website and print volume have been created with input from several groups working together to determine what is important and how it can be presented to best serve the people in our community. North Carolina Central University, an HBCU, is represented by Dr. Dasherline Johnson from the Julius Chambers Biological and Biotechnical Institute and the principal investigator/research scientist for the opioid abatement and recovery research program.

TRY (Together for Resilient Youth) is represented by Dr. Wanda Boone, bringing the perspective of harm-reduction methods.

After the initial development of the toolkit, feedback from community providers and leaders as well as community members has been incorporated to further refine the material. We welcome additional feedback from the community so that these resources can be a vital part of positive change in our community and beyond, to lessen the scourge of opioid abuse by fostering healing and wholeness.

Dr. Johnson received a $380,000 grant for "Opioid Abatement and Recovery Research Program 2022” sponsored by the North Carolina Collaboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (“UNC-Chapel Hill”).
https://collaboratory.unc.edu/highlighted-projects/opioid-abatement-and-recovery-research-program/

Contact: Dr. Dasherline Johnson, [email protected]

Johnson, D. C., et al. (2023, December). Communiversity Developed and Tested Toolkit for Opioid Abuse Abatement. Opioid-Abatement Toolkit. North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina.