Our Work

MACRO-B has been hard at work working through each phase of the project. Below is a collection of project artifacts, publications, and other governance documents showing our operations and findings so far.

Policy Impact: Indiana House Bill 1167

Co-authored by our MACRO-B Coalition member, Representative Robin Shackleford, Indiana House Bill 1167, was passed and signed into law. The bill exempts fentanyl test strips and similar drug-checking equipment from state paraphernalia laws, expanding accessibility of drug-checking equipment to the public which may reduce overdose death rates. Indiana Governor signed it on April 10, 2025.

Harm Reduction Supplies

Harm Reduction supplies distributed to the target communities in the inner-city Indianapolis (zip code areas of 46202, 46205, 46208, and 46218) with about 100,000 residents throughout the duration of the project:

Project Year 1

(October 2022 - September 2023)

Naloxone
0
FTS
0

Project Year 2

(October 2023 - September 2024)

Naloxone
0
FTS
0
XTS
0

Project Year 3

(September 2024 - September 2025)

Naloxone
0
FTS
0
XTS
0

MACRO-B Project Background

MACRO-B Program Description

The MACRO-B program description contains general background information and an overview of the project phases. This was presented at the 86th Annual College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CCPD) Meeting in Montreal, Quebec in 2024.

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MACRO-B Priority Problems

We identified seven priority problems through our research into inequitable opioid overdose deaths and structural racism that acts as a barrier to residents of the target ZIP codes within the MACRO-B Project. This document presents both the short-term and long-term problems MACRO-B set out to address over an 18-month period.

Read the Summary

Learn More About the MACRO-B Project

Exploring Barriers to Overdose Fatality Prevention in Indianapolis’ Black Community with Semi-Structured Interviews

MACRO-B was featured in Springer Nature, a global publisher of academic works. The article discussed the interview phase of the project, in which we conducted one-on-one interviews with residents of the four target ZIP codes. The article discusses the background, methods, and results of the project.

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Assessment of Knowledge on Opioid Overdose and Naloxone (Narcan™) Administration in Five Black-Dominant Indiana Communities

When the inequitable overdose fatality rates were discovered in these Black Indianapolis communities, the first phase of the project involved sending out surveys to communities to assess knowledge surrounding opioid overdose and naloxone administration. The surveys also collected demographic information used to build the foundation of the project.

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Lifesaving Behaviors Following an Opioid Overdose: Interviews with Members of Indianapolis’ Black Community

MACRO-B conducted 50 one-on-one interviews with Black residents of the four target ZIP codes. These interviews aimed at peeling back the layers of the relationship between Black community members and harm prevention tools. They also explored topics like fear, stigma, and mistrust surrounding overdose fatality prevention tools, race, and law enforcement. 

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Community Conditions, Practices, and Beliefs Contributing to Opioid Overdose Education and Response in Black-Dominant Indianapolis Communities

This portion of the project honed in on the context behind the factors contributing to inequitable opioid overdose deaths in Black communities. The methodology included community overdose surveys, in-depth interviews with those in the most affected communities, and development of the MACRO-B Coalition.

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Community Resources

We have created several free resources to educate people on the dangers of fentanyl and how to use harm reduction tools like Narcan™ and fentanyl test strips.

Fentanyl 101

Download

Narcan™ Instructions

Download

Fentanyl Test Strips

Download

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