Case study
Evaluation of the Opioid Rapid Response System (ORRS)
Short-term effects of naloxone administration and overdose response education for lay citizens
ORRS is a brief, evidence-based training program that prepares lay citizens to recognize opioid overdoses, administer intranasal naloxone (Narcan), and respond with confidence. The evaluation below summarizes short-term outcomes from a randomized clinical effectiveness trial.
Participants
773 lay citizens
Adults from nine communities across three U.S. states.
Design
Randomized waitlist
Two-arm trial comparing ORRS to a waitlisted control group.
Program
20-minute core
Seven required modules plus two optional deep dives.
Format
Conversational
Embodied conversational agent with interactive assessments.
Product challenge
Overdose events require rapid action, but many community members lack training and confidence. Existing programs are inconsistent, rarely evaluated, and difficult to scale. ORRS needed to be brief, evidence-based, and measurable without sacrificing engagement.
Target users
Lay citizens who are not professional first responders, recruited across diverse communities. The program is designed for adults with varied education levels and prior exposure to overdose events.
Solution design
ORRS delivers seven required modules covering overdose recognition, safety, naloxone use, rescue breathing, emergency response, and wrap-up guidance. Two optional modules address how naloxone works and stigma reduction. Learners move through guided dialogue, knowledge checks, and scenario-based prompts.
The training is intentionally short and self-paced to improve completion rates while reinforcing core response steps recommended by public health guidance.
Evaluation plan
Participants completed a baseline survey, the ORRS training, and an immediate post-test. A randomized waitlist control received general opioid information without response training during the evaluation window. The study assessed knowledge of overdose signs and management, self-efficacy, response efficacy, intent to intervene, and concerns or stigma.
Key outcomes
- Higher knowledge scores for overdose signs and management versus waitlist controls.
- Meaningful gains in self-efficacy and response efficacy after training.
- Lower concerns about intervening and reduced personal stigma.
- Stronger intentions to administer intranasal naloxone and respond to emergencies.
What this means for communities?
A short, conversational format can deliver measurable improvements in readiness while keeping training accessible for community audiences. ORRS demonstrates that structured, interactive modules outperform passive information alone on both knowledge and confidence outcomes.
Bring ORRS to your organization
Tailored Messages hosts the ORRS curriculum, tracks completion, and reports readiness metrics so teams can deliver evidence-based training at scale.