Chase Away Fentanyl seeks funds for New Start program: Narcan distribution and fines‑matching to engage people in recovery

Allen Vickers, speaking for the nonprofit Chase Away Fentanyl, told the Coffee County Opioid Abatement Fund Committee on Feb. 26 that his organization’s New Start program combines Naloxone distribution, participant volunteer engagement and financial assistance to remove barriers to reentry.

Vickers said the program matches each dollar a participant pays toward fines with one dollar from the program and requires program participants to volunteer at community recovery events, receive Narcan/Naloxone training and participate in case-management screening. He described the program as a ‘‘hand up’’ model designed to reduce barriers to employment and mobility (for example, restoring driver’s licenses and paying fines and fees) that can otherwise block reentry.

Key program elements and numbers: Vickers provided a budget that lists a large Narcan allocation. He cited a total Narcan budget line in the program packet (Vickers referenced $97,500 in one portion of his presentation and later corrected that the program has allocated the capacity to distribute 6,500 doses to Coffee County under the New Start model). He said Chase Away Fentanyl distributed 4,000 doses last year and has distributed more than 1,000 doses in Coffee County this year to date. The application includes online portal and data collection costs (Vickers said the portal and maintenance would cost about $15,000) to measure program outcomes and screen participants.

Why it matters: Naloxone distribution is a direct overdose‑prevention measure; Vickers said the program also creates roles and responsibilities for participants that may provide hope, structure and skill-building. The committee asked whether Narcan distribution is considered remediation or prevention; Vickers and members agreed it falls under harm reduction/overdose prevention within the abatement guidance.

Questions and committee follow-up: Committee members asked about other funding sources, program sustainability and whether the schools or school districts block distribution; members said Manchester City Schools and Coffee County Schools already have opioid antagonist policies and stock naloxone in specified settings. Vickers said Chase Away Fentanyl has some donations, occasional state support, and grant awards in other counties, and that Franklin County had implemented the New Start program successfully.

Next steps: The committee will include the New Start application in the prioritization and funding discussion at the March 12 meeting and asked staff to provide firm finance guidance in advance.