Talking about a person's pattern of substance use and effects of mixing drugs (mixing using alone or not)

• This creates the opportunity to talk about risk factors (mixing drugs and using alone)

Talking about a person's stay in TX or recovery or jail and its impact on tolerance

• Creates opportunity to talk about reduced tolerance, discuss harm reduction (death prevention) and reduce overdose risk. The focus is not on relapse but how they can use the information to help a friend, support

Talking about a person's experiences of witnessing overdoses

• Creates opportunity to talk about their experience intervening, and prioritizing response actions. An example of this is if a client has witnesses an overdose the guilt they may feel and may be traumatic to the client. Things to be a aware of; be empathetic by saying thank you for sharing; can you tell me what you were able to do to respond

Talking about a person's past history of surviving a overdose

• Helps to identify and assess risk factors and discuss ways to reduce their risk

Talking to people about their experience witnessing an overdose

• Creates an opportunity to talk about recognizing an overdose. Things you can ask are what did you notice/see when they were overdosing

Talking to people about how to respond to an overdose

• Helps to support their interest in helping their friends, family and neighbors

Used with permission from SPHERE, a program of Health Imperatives. Email: SPHERE@healthimperatives.org,
online: www.healthimperatives.org/sphere,
phone: (508) 583-2250.