Peer Overdose Prevention Project

Our Story:

The idea for this project was a result of collaboration between the teams at Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine/Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Public Health as a way to address the critical public health challenge of rising youth overdose rates. The project, which is funded by the BU School of Public Health, is an equity-centered and peer-led overdose prevention project that was co-created directly with students at O’Bryant High School in Roxbury. This innovative curriculum, developed over 10 weeks by 14 students in collaboration with partners from Boston University and Boston Medical Center, equips teens with life-saving knowledge and empowers them as leaders to foster safer, healthier school communities. The curriculum, which covers topics such as overdose recognition, response, and risk reduction, was built upon the authentic voices of the students and is designed to be culturally relevant, evidence-based, and impactful. Guided by their project mentors, students developed several mediums to share this information, including a website, an online game, YouTube videos, and presentation slides. Students involved in the project were motivated by personal experiences with substance use, a desire to keep their peers safe, or aspirations for a career in healthcare. Our team is finalizing the content for this curriculum, which will give youth the tools they need to prevent fatal overdoses in their communities. We plan to scale this initiative for wider dissemination and implementation in the future.