One Win at a Time: A Case Study of UT-Chattanooga's Opioid Overdose Prevention Program
Includes a Live Web Event on 03/26/2026 at 4:00 PM (EDT)
Megan McKnight, MSSW
Director of the Center for Wellbeing
University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Megan McKnight (she/her) is a 2nd gen queerspawn, social worker, and health educator. She currently serves as the Director of the Center for Wellbeing at UTC, where she focuses on supporting student health and wellbeing in areas including mental health, physical health, sexual health, substance use, and recovery. Megan’s work addressing opioid overdose prevention and response was recognized by the White House in 2024. Outside of work, Megan can be found snuggling up with her two pups, Tater Tot and Moonpie, exploring a new indie bookstore, unboxing a new board game, or searching for the best food in every city she visits.
Kat James, LMSW
Assistant Director for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention and Recovery
Kat James (they/them) is a knitter, houseplant enthusiast, proud godparent, and a person in long-term recovery; their personal and professional experience has proven true the aphorism that "The opposite of addiction is connection." As the Assistant Director for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention and Recovery, Kat is passionate about helping young adults explore harm reduction techniques, new coping strategies, and their own unique strengths.
This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the history and current approach for the opioid overdose prevention program at UT-Chattanooga. Presenters will share lessons learned as the university moved through various stages of the Strategic Prevention Framework to build diverse approaches, including the distribution and installation of naloxone, anti-stigma education, and hands-on intervention training, as well as recruiting and training peer educators. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and a realistic understanding of how “small wins” can accumulate into meaningful cultural and institutional change.
Learning Outcomes
- Learn strategies for building a comprehensive approach to preventing opioid overdose deaths on your campus
- Apply principles of the Strategic Prevention Framework in a real-world context
- Describe one approach to recruiting, training, and utilizing peer educators in expanding overdose prevention education
- Understand the importance of anti-stigma education in preparing your campus to implement overdose prevention strategies