In this episode of Airing Addiction, we’re joined by Stephen Murray, executive leader at SafeSpot—the nation’s first and only professionalized, 24/7 peer-led overdose detection and prevention hotline.
Formerly known as the Massachusetts Overdose Prevention Helpline, SafeSpot has quietly saved lives by doing something radically simple: staying with people while they use drugs and activating help if an emergency arises.
Stephen shares the story behind SafeSpot’s evolution from a volunteer-run “Never Use Alone” line to a nationally funded, paid peer workforce operating across multiple states. We dive into what it means to professionalize lived experience, why dignity and compensation matter in harm reduction, and how a model where only 1 in 400 calls becomes an overdose can still be the difference between life and death.
From workforce development to policy wins to the future of overdose prevention, this conversation explores how SafeSpot is building a scalable, human-centered response to the overdose crisis—one call at a time.
Join Jesse and Lisa to hear how Stephen was inspired to start SafeSpot, only on Airing Addiction!”
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