Suspenders4Hope through HOPE Services has been awarded a $287,000 grant from Kansas Fights Addiction Grant Program through the Sunflower Foundation to expand its substance misuse prevention efforts. With this generous funding, Suspenders4Hope will develop and distribute Suspenders4Hope Care Kits aimed at individuals with substance use disorder, particularly those at elevated risk of overdose.

The Care Kits are designed to provide harm reduction and coping tools to individuals who are at high risk of overdose, including those recently hospitalized, in outpatient treatment or transitioning out of a treatment program. Research indicates that individuals treated for a nonfatal overdose are at increased risk for a subsequent fatal overdose, and there is an elevated risk of mortality in the weeks following inpatient treatment. This underscores the need for continued care and support.

The Care Kits will include essential items such as naloxone, medication locks, fentanyl test strips, condoms and access to relevant resources like online Substance Use and Mental Wellness training and a naloxone administration training video. Distribution of naloxone has been proven to decrease overdose death rates, and fentanyl test strips have shown promise in encouraging risk reduction behaviors.

In addition to harm reduction tools, the kits will feature coping tools and destigmatizing materials, including adult coloring books, coping journals, stories of hope and recovery and a Suspenders4Hope bracelet. These items are designed to support individuals in managing emotions and provide alternatives to substance use.

Suspenders4Hope will collaborate with community partners to distribute the kits and provide healthcare-focused training to reduce stigma and expand care access. Similar harm reduction kits provided in hospital settings have increased awareness and compassion for individuals with substance use disorder, encouraging help-seeking behaviors.

Additionally, Suspenders4Hope will work with healthcare systems and training programs to facilitate training for current and future healthcare providers on medically assisted treatment and destigmatized engagement with individuals with substance use disorder. The organization will provide additional resources to support systems for individuals with substance use disorder and the general community, promote and assist individuals in enrolling in free PrEP treatment and continue to be a resource for destigmatized engagement and culture in Kansas.

This funding will allow Suspenders4Hope to bridge gaps in care by providing practical tools and emphasizing compassion in the dissemination of resources, ultimately supporting individuals with substance use disorder in a comprehensive and compassionate manner.