INDIANA – Indianapolis nonprofit Overdose Lifeline has launched KATE, an AI-powered chatbot designed to provide immediate and anonymous support to individuals struggling with opioid addiction. KATE, which stands for knowledge, advocacy, trust, and education, offers information on treatment centers, recovery resources, harm reduction strategies, and emotional support.
This initiative comes as Indiana continues to combat the opioid crisis, despite a promising nearly 18% decrease in overdose deaths between 2022 and provisional 2023 data from the CDC. In 2022, the state reported 2,682 overdose deaths.
Founded in 2015 by Justin Phillips after losing her son to a heroin overdose, Overdose Lifeline has been a key player in addressing the crisis, advocating for measures like increased naloxone access through Aaron’s Law.
KATE aims to break down barriers such as stigma and accessibility by offering confidential, 24/7 support. According to Phillips, the chatbot is a “reliable, verified source of information” where individuals can ask questions anonymously about drug testing, harm reduction, and difficult conversations without data tracking. KATE’s information is sourced from the CDC and other federal and state organizations.
Beyond KATE, Overdose Lifeline also participates in awareness campaigns like Black Balloon Day on March 6th, honoring lives lost to overdose.
Phillips hopes KATE will serve as a crucial resource, encouraging individuals to access harm reduction tools like naloxone and fentanyl test strips and connect them with necessary help.
To chat with KATE, visit hellokate.com. More information about Overdose Lifeline can be found at overdoselifeline.org.
