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Text Alerts Save Lives in Drug Crisis
9 Jan
Summary
- Anonymous texting service provides real-time overdose prevention alerts.
- Fentanyl test strips and naloxone are distributed at community events.
- Harm reduction approach aims to minimize drug use dangers and aid treatment.
Overdose Lifeline, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit, is utilizing an anonymous texting service, CHARIOT, to combat drug overdoses in real time. The service disseminates alerts about disruptions in the local drug supply, including "bad batches" laced with opioids and information on drug seizures, which can lead to increased overdose risks. This proactive approach aims to mitigate unintended consequences that could result in loss of life.
Launched a week before Christmas, CHARIOT sends weekly messages to subscribers, encouraging caution with drug testing and readily available naloxone. In 2025, Marion County saw approximately 1,300 emergency room visits for drug overdoses and 562 deaths, underscoring the urgency of these interventions. The nonprofit also distributes naloxone and fentanyl test strips, tools central to harm reduction, at pop-up events across Indianapolis.
The CHARIOT service functions as a two-way communication channel, with nearly 500 Indianapolis residents signed up to receive alerts and also contribute information. This anonymous system helps overcome the shame and stigma associated with drug use, providing a vital link to help and potentially changing outcomes for individuals struggling with addiction, as exemplified by the founder's personal loss.
