Tennessee Save a Life-First Responders (TNSAL-FR) - The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services will implement TNSAL-FR to strengthen overdose prevention and response across 31 rural counties in East and West Tennessee. The project will train and equip first responders and community partners, expand access to FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal medications, and provide post-overdose peer Care Coordination and linkages to treatment and recovery services. TNSAL-FR will serve 8,700 unduplicated individuals over four years, including 3,600 first responders and 5,100 community members. The project will serve approximately 830,000 residents in Bradley, Polk, McMinn, Meigs, Rhea, Bledsoe, Cumberland, Van Buren, White, Overton, Fentress, Pickett, Scott, Lake, Obion, Dyer, Lauderdale, Haywood, Hardeman, McNairy, Hardin, Decatur, Henderson, Carroll, Weakley, Henry, Benton, Houston, Humphreys, Perry, and Wayne Counties. The population is 49.3% male and 50.7% female; 20.3% is under age 18, 56.9% is ages 18-64, and 22.8% is age 65 or older. The population of focus includes law enforcement, emergency medical services personnel, firefighters, rescue personnel, and other overdose-response professionals, as well as adolescents and adults who have experienced or are at elevated risk of overdose. Community members may have opioid or other substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health needs, and involvement with criminal justice, child welfare, or social-service systems. TNSAL-FR will support two First Responder Trainers and two Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Care Coordinators. First responders and Community Anchors will receive training on overdose recognition and response, opioid overdose reversal medication administration, Good Samaritan laws, emerging drug threats, referral procedures, and first responder wellness. The project will distribute at least 7,700 opioid overdose reversal medication kits annually, implement leave-behind distribution and standardized warm-handoff protocols, partner with at least eight Community Anchors, conduct resource mapping, and convene a quarterly Community Engagement Workgroup. Care Coordinators will attempt contact with referred individuals within two days and provide peer support, service navigation, and follow-up for up to 12 months. The project will serve 1,500 unduplicated individuals in Year 1 and 2,400 annually in Years 2–4. It will train and equip 600 first responders in Year 1 and 1,000 annually thereafter, with at least 90% demonstrating increased knowledge. Care Coordination will be provided to 400 community members in Year 1 and 700 annually in Years 2–4. Performance data, overdose-event information, fidelity monitoring, and quarterly quality-improvement reviews will guide implementation and support accountability, recovery, crisis response, and timely responses to emerging overdose threats.
