PROJECT OPIOID INITIATIVE INC
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Mission Statement
Project Opioid aligns leaders around one shared goal: to reduce overdose deaths caused or contributed by lethal opioids, like fentanyl.
About This Cause
Project Opioid was founded in 2018 to respond to one of the most devastating man-made public health crises of the 21st century: the modern overdose crisis, primarily fueled by opioids. Since then, the crisis has continued to rapidly worsen. We have seen the pervasive use of synthetic opioids in non-opioid street drugs like cocaine, methamphetamines, and others. The impacts of this ongoing tragedy can be seen constantly in our community, with overdoses now the leading cause of death for Floridians 35 or younger, including those right here in Central Florida. Tragically, the majority of the deaths are fueled by the hidden use of deadly fentanyl as a readily available and inexpensive ingredient that cartels are adding to what were once considered safer “recreational” drugs. In 2019, over 70,000 Americans died of a drug overdose in the U.S. – most of which were young people. To be clear, these are not people who were looking for a way to die. These individuals did not purposely end their lives they were struggling with physical ailments, emotional pain, or quietly dealing with underlying mental health challenges and turned to these drugs to cope with mental and physical pain. Sadly, they became reliant on substances to cope and unwittingly began experimenting with new and powerful street drugs that had fatal consequences. In 2018, when Project Opioid was created, our leaders knew we were facing an urgent crisis, but one that we knew had solutions. Fast forward to 2021, and we are now experiencing a raging epidemic within a pandemic. Declining mental health, isolation, economic uncertainty, and COVID-19 related trauma have all driven explosive increases in overdose deaths. We experienced a nearly 50% increase in drug-related deaths from 2019-2020. Project Opioid was also created with idea that building coalitions of top leaders, many from the business, philanthropic, and faith community, is the first step in creating real progress. While our public sector and other frontline advocates have long worked on this public health crisis, the reality is that without the support of influential leaders in all sectors, that are empowered to respond to this crisis and save lives, we will not find solutions and rescue those in need. We have grown from our first coalition in Central Florida to an additional five coalitions that launched in 2021, including Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, West Palm, and Ft. Lauderdale. Each of these coalitions is led by their community’s top business, faith, and philanthropic leaders. We know that saving lives requires building coalitions of influential leaders and engaging those working on the frontlines of our communities. The urgency has reached a level of intensity that has escalated the imperative for leaders to get more involved in this deadly crisis. Our leaders, who hail from top companies, hospitals, law enforcement, congregations, foundations, as well as leaders from local governments are heroes. Project Opioid was founded for one reason and one reason alone – to save lives. To do this we must also work together to change how communities think about those struggling with deceptively dangerous drugs and how we act and respond to help those in need. When those who are battling to overcome their struggles reach out for help, what do they find? Far too often they find inaccessible pathways to treatment and a fragmented patchwork of remaining options. Sadly, when reaching out for desperately needed help, they are often met with shame and scorn. Life-saving interventions are not readily available when those in need and their families turn for help, especially those in vulnerable populations. We all know that more needs to be done, especially as families continue to experience heartbreak and loss. As more people struggle, our leaders must foster a culture of grace, compassion and offer a hand up for those who are struggling. So how did we get here? Where and how did this devastating overdose crisis in our communities and nation begin? Most experts agree that there were three big factors that birthed the original overdose crisis across America well before COVID-19: the reckless deluge of opioids by Big Pharma, the gradual deterioration of our collective mental health, and, most recently, the emergence of the powerful and deadly synthetic opioid, illicit fentanyl. What is Project Opioid doing in 2021 and beyond to save lives? The time for leaders to act is now and that is why Project Opioid is launching the Overdose Initiative, a 6-pronged community strategy that aims to reduce overdoses and related deaths across our community and in regions around Florida. 1. Saving lives by stopping overdoses when they happen – Harm Reduction Outreach 2. Outreach and engagement for those in our most Vulnerable Communities 3. Changing hearts and minds with cutting-edge advocacy and outreach - What’s The Fix? 4. Collaborating with leaders in Business, Faith, and Philanthropy to create a “New Frontline” - Take the Pledge 5. Medicine and technology as a solution for those in need – Support and promote the use of MAT and Telehealth 6. No “wrong door” and no one left without help – Innovations in Services Navigation