Empowering Communities and Enhancing Public Safety: Stakeholders' Perspectives on Opioid Overdose Prevention Strategies in Boston.

The opioid crisis in Boston necessitated multifaceted prevention strategies. This qualitative descriptive study engaged stakeholders' perspectives to explore the role of community empowerment and educational strategies in opioid overdose prevention. Fifteen officials from law enforcement, healthcare, policy, and community organizations participated in semi-structured interviews conducted from January to March 2024. Thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke's approach, facilitated by MAXQDA software, revealed three themes: Perceived Role of Community Empowerment in Opioid Overdose Prevention, highlighting the importance of local leadership, personal recovery, and grassroots initiatives; Effectiveness of Educational Strategies in Opioid Overdose Prevention, focusing on awareness, harm reduction, and bridging gaps post-incarceration; and Challenges and Innovations in Empowering Communities and Enhancing Public Safety, emphasizing the integration of law enforcement with technological solutions and community collaboration. The study underscores the importance of integrating public health approaches with enhanced law enforcement strategies and community-driven solutions to balance immediate intervention with long-term community resilience.