The Jefferson County Department of Health, local fire departments and the Birmingham Police Department are launching a new program designed to provide overdose-response resources and connect people at risk of opioid overdose with treatment and recovery services.
The Leave Behind Program will launch in conjunction with International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31. The initiative is intended to make lifesaving overdose-response resources available to people following emergency calls involving suspected opioid overdoses.
Through the program, participating emergency responders can distribute overdose-response kits after responding to suspected overdoses. Kits may also be provided to family members, caregivers or bystanders who could potentially recognize and respond to a future overdose…