Rural Center of Excellence on SUD Treatment
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Community Rounds
July 13, 2022

Strategies for Distributing Intranasal Naloxone to Rural Communities

PANEL

Geoff Capraro, MD,
Brooke Lawrence

Our speakers are Geoff Capraro, MD, Attending Physician and Associate Professor, Brown Emergency Medicine, and Brooke Lawrence, from the Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team. This presentation explores the need for naloxone distribution in rural areas and discusses innovative methods and technologies for increasing access.​ ​

Learning objectives:​

  1. Discuss evidence showing the need for improved naloxone distribution
  2. Describe the need for naloxone in rural communities​
  3. Outline ways that improved naloxone distribution can reduce stigma and other barriers​
  4. Describe innovative technologies to increase access to naloxone​

Speakers

Geoff Capraro

Geoff Capraro, MD,

Geoff Capraro, MD (he/him) is a practicing, board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physician with Brown Emergency Medicine and Co-Director of the medical school’s Scholarly Concentration in Medical Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. Dr. Capraro is a Co-Founder of the nationally distributed NaloxBox program, which furnishes tools to support bystander rescue of people overdosing on opioids in public and semi-public places. Among his current activities, Dr. Capraro is collaborating on a production of virtual overdose rescue training, “SciToon” and stigma reduction vignettes with Ana Bess Moyer Bell of 2nd Act, through the generous support of SAMHSA’s New England ATTC, the COBRE on Opioids & Overdose, and Brown Emergency Medicine. 

Brooke Lawrence

Brooke Lawrence

Brooke Lawrence was a volunteer firefighter and volunteer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider before beginning a career in professional EMS. He then began working in product development and sales at multiple levels. He has also served in various senior leadership roles at the Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team/Medical Reserve Corps and as a director of his hometown Emergency Management Agency. Mr. Lawrence recently completed an 842-day deployment leading 2400+ volunteers to over 240,000 hours of service in the State of Rhode Island’s COVID-19 response.