Background: The emergence of post-overdose programs that provide follow up with overdose survivors are a response to escalating overdose deaths. These programs have emerged across the country but there are limited data that demonstrate their effectiveness.  Authors of the scoping review searched the peer reviewed literature as well as the grey literature (newspaper articles, government reports) to identify and describe post-overdose outreach programs and data about their impact when available. They reviewed literature published from 1999 to January 2019 in databases including PubMed, PsychInfo, Academic-OneFile, and federal and state databases.

Results: Twenty-seven programs were identified among peer-reviewed and gray literature, three of those included peer-reviewed articles. Most publications included descriptions of the programs and one observational study reported outcomes including repeat overdose and initiation of medication treatment. Most programs consisted of partnerships between public safety and community organizations. Core components of most programs included naloxone training and referral to treatment.

Summary: This scoping review highlights an important and promising intervention for follow up of overdose survivors. Authors noted the lack of available outcome data and that future studies to exploring the effectiveness of programs and identifying the specific components of programs that are key to reduce subsequent overdose are urgently needed.