Allison McBride, MPH, BS

Allison McBride joined the Vital Strategies Overdose Prevention Program team in 2021. She received her B.S. in Psychology at Louisiana State University in 2018. While earning her degree, Allison engaged with nonprofit, academic, and government entities. She coordinated a study examining the effects of natural disaster-related trauma among southern Louisianians with Dr. Katie Cherry. Under the Louisiana Secretary of State, Allison supported elections operations and voting improvement projects. While studying abroad in Melbourne, Australia, she distributed donated meals to unhoused individuals through Two Birds, One Scone.
In May 2020, Allison then earned her MPH with a concentration in Health Policy and Law from Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH). During her time at BUSPH, Allison completed her practicum at the Action Lab within the Northeastern University School of Law (NUSL), leading several drug-policy research initiatives. Allison also interned as a Harm Reduction Advocate at the Boston Public Health Commission’s AHOPE, providing overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) to surrounding populations. In efforts to expand her advocacy, Allison identified practicum opportunities for other BUSPH students to support local organizations’ efforts assisting those impacted by the overdose crisis. She collaborated with SIFMA Now, advocating for overdose prevention sites, by recruiting and educating interested students to speak with representatives at the Massachusetts State House.
After graduating from BUSPH, Allison continued her efforts at the Action Lab, as the Director of Strategic Operations, expanding its reach at the national and local levels. While in her role, she also served as a subcommittee member for the Somerville Safe Consumption Site Working Group. Allison then joined Vital Strategies, as a Program Manager to co-manage a $10 million investment in overdose prevention and response and provide technical assistance to several local stakeholders in Kentucky. Since her promotion in August 2023, as Operations Manager, Allison now supports teams overseeing all seven states under Overdose Prevention Program.