INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD), in partnership with the Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) recently launched the first phase of IFDs’ participation in the Naloxone Leave Behind (NLB) initiative, aimed at reducing overdose deaths in Marion County. MCPHD launched the NLB project in July of 2024 with IEMS as the initial distribution partner.
IFD which has responded on 1,711 overdose incidents between January 1, 2025 and May 29, 2025, will carry the kits on their apparatus, and when appropriate, leave the kits with family members, friends or patients, once the suspected overdose patient has been stabilized.
For IFD, this will be a multi-phase effort, beginning with 7 of their 44 stations and expanding to the full department by the end of the year. The initial stations were identified as part of IFD’s participation in a coalition of agencies across Indianapolis known as the MACRO-B coalition. The coalition is focusing on four Indianapolis ZIP codes: 46202, 46205, 46208, and 46218. Seven IFD fire stations fall within these ZIP codes: 5, 7, 10, 14, 22, 24, and 31. For this initial deployment, the stations received training on how and when to distribute the NLB kits, as well as an initial supply of the kits.
Each kit includes:
• 1 dose of intranasal Naloxone
• Resource card with a QR code to the NLB and 211 phone support
• Info on the Overdose Lifeline Chariot program
• Educational materials on recognizing an overdose and administering intranasal Naloxone
For more information or to contact a project coordinator, please visit www.marionhealth.org/nlb.
