MIMH Addiction Science

Huge thanks to the Child and Family Empowerment Center (CAFE) in St. Louis for hand-packing in-kit naloxone that's now headed back out into the community. 💙 Every kit assembled is another chance to reverse an overdose and keep a neighbor alive. Grateful for partners like CAFE who make Missouri's naloxone network possible.

New I-STARR Webinar | The Role of Peer Respite Housing in the Recovery Housing Continuum

▪️ Tuesday, August 18, 2026
▪️11 AM PT / 1 PM CT / 2 PM ET

Originally built as an intervention for acute mental health crises, the peer respite model has been reimagined to support people experiencing homelessness or awaiting treatment—those who may not be ready for immediate recovery housing placement. Drawing on Missouri's pilot of five Peer Respite Crisis Stabilization programs, this session explores where peer respite fits in the recovery continuum and shares early findings on residents' recovery experiences and housing stability.

We're proud to feature two members of our own Addiction Science Team as presenters:
▪️ Maria Paschke, MPP — Director of Impact and Innovation
▪️ Lindsey Pawlowski, MPP — Recovery Services Project Coordinator & Community-engaged Research Lead
▪️Joined by Rachel Davidson, CPS, HRS — CEO of Ozark Recovery Housing.

Register today: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZCyUd498Tn6Dwp7FdhkT_w #/registration

During the month of August, we recognize Overdose Awareness Month in an effort to remember the lives lost due to overdose and support individuals and families affected by substance use.

By learning the signs of an overdose, carrying naloxone, removing barriers, and connecting people to treatment and recovery resources, we can make meaningful change. Together, we can build stronger, healthier communities.

500+ people trained!

That's how many providers and community members have joined us at our Substance Use Training Days. Building practical, real-world skills they can use the moment they're needed.

Every training covers:
🔹 Overdose recognition & naloxone response
🔹 Overdose response best practices
🔹 Connection to local resources & partners

Our trainings are always free, and they happen across Missouri.

See what's coming up next: mimhaddisci.org/training

Naloxone reached every county in Missouri!

Slide 1 comes from our latest Annual Naloxone Report, a county-by-county look at where kits went across the state. Slide 2 is how you keep the trend going.

Swipe to order free naloxone — by mail or at locations statewide.

getmissourinaloxone.com

Thanks to our partners who continue to make this work possible who work everyday to distribute naloxone in their communities.

Have you heard of medetomidine?

Medetomidine sometimes called "rhino tranq" is a veterinary sedative that's stronger than xylazine, and it's showing up in Missouri's drug supply.

Swipe through to learn what it does, what withdrawal can look like, and when to head to the hospital.

🔹 Show your healthcare provider this post if you are seeking care to help them understand what they're treating.
🔹 Providers: current treatment guidance is at SubstanceUsePhilly.com/medetomidine (slide 4 has the QR code).

Adapted from materials developed by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Card updated March 2026.

FREE Two-Part Webinar: Holistic Care for People Who Use Drugs
This July, join us for a thought-provoking training series that incorporates compassionate patient care, trauma-informed care, overdose prevention strategies, and motivational interviewing — designed for anyone who works with people who use drugs (PWUD).
Your presenter: Dr. Nathanial Nolan, MD, MPH, MHPE, an Infectious Disease specialist with a special interest in the intersection of infectious diseases and substance use. Dr. Nolan is the founder of Street Medicine St. Louis, an expert Treatment Advisor on Missouri's SOR grant, and makes regular medical rounds providing care access to unhoused people in St. Louis.
- Part 1: Thursday, July 17 | 12:00–1:00 PM
The opioid epidemic landscape, the science behind opioid use disorder, common harms associated with drug use, and overdose prevention.
Register: https://umsystem.zoom.us/meeting/register/BHhdsNFdR-GFpdyg7WW9fw
- Part 2: Thursday, July 24 | 12:00–1:00 PM
Medications for OUD, patient-centered approaches, trauma-informed care, and incorporating compassionate holistic care into your practice.
Register: https://umsystem.zoom.us/meeting/register/-HToJIu3TbG6PURM8xg6WA
✅ A certificate for 1 contact hour will be issued after each training.

Never throw expired naloxone away!

Our FREE Naloxone Return Program is now live. Anyone in Missouri can participate no matter where you originally got your naloxone and we'll resupply you with fresh naloxone at no cost.

And remember: expired naloxone still works. Research shows most expired naloxone retains the vast majority of its potency, so never hesitate to use it in an overdose emergency if it's your only option.

Start your return: GetMissouriNaloxone.com

Questions? Contact Casey Johnson, Director of Supply Distribution, at [email protected]

It takes a village to get naloxone into the hands of people who need it and our work starts right here.

Behind every kit that reaches a Missourian is a team dedicated to packing, tracking, and shipping critical supplies across the state. We work alongside first responders, overdose prevention organizations, public health agencies, community organizations, and healthcare providers to make sure naloxone gets where it needs to go.

This work is life-saving, and we are proud to play our part in Missouri's overdose prevention ecosystem. Thank you to every partner who gets these supplies across the finish line. 💙