Overdose Lifeline, Inc. Provides Testimony at the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis
INDIANAPOLIS (PRWEB) November 03, 2017 -- Overdose Lifeline, Inc. founder and executive director Justin Phillips was invited to provide testimony at the November 1, 2017 President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis by Chairman and Governor Chris Christie. For an organization that has been on the front lines of the opioid public health crisis since 2014 – the opportunity to participate in the Commission’s final hearing is further evidence of the importance of the organization’s past accomplishments and outcomes and the mountain of work ahead.
In three short years Overdose Lifeline has:
• Developed the only youth awareness prevention program to address the dangers of opioids, now used in more than a dozen states.
• Worked with lawmakers allowing for over-the-counter Naloxone (brand name NARCAN®) access. Has trained and distributed over 13,000 Naloxone kits to first responders and the public.
• Recently, became the first organization in the U.S. to be trained to deliver an evidence-based personality-targeted approach adolescent substance use prevention program that is being piloted in six Indiana counties.
• Developed effective evidence-informed training courses addressing the opioid crisis. When deployed across a community, or state, it results in all key stakeholders carrying the same awareness and knowledge level and improves cross-channel collaboration and results.
The President’s Commission’s report includes 56 recommendations addressing advancements and changes to Federal Funding and Programs; Screening and Early Intervention; Prescribing Guidelines, Regulation and Education; Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, Supply Reduction and Enforcement Strategies Opioid Addiction Treatment, Recovery and Overdose Reversal and Research and Development. When asked for her viewpoint on one of the most critical components of the Commission’s report, Justin comments
“To distill this down to one thing you can image is a challenge for someone who feels we need to do more - not less. The work of the commission and the report to the President will allow work like ours to have a bigger impact and together we will save more lives than we are losing. Addiction needs to be treated like the other chronic diseases, providing immediate, accessible care and continuation of services required for positive and successful outcomes.”
• Justin Phillip’s Testimony to the November 1, 2017 President’s Commission MORE
• Programs available to immediately address youth opioid misuse and prevention MORE
• Training programs for those working to prevent and reduce the effects of the opioid public health crisis MORE
About Overdose Lifeline, Inc.:
Overdose Lifeline is an Indiana 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to eliminate the shame and stigma and carry the message of hope to individuals, families, and communities affected by the chronic disease of addiction / substance use disorder. The organization was founded in 2014 as a direct response to the opioid public health crisis. The nonprofits' programs and initiatives focus on impacting the opioid (pain pill and heroin) epidemic through education, harm reduction, prevention, and support. Visit http://www.overdose-lifeline.org
Justin Phillips, Overdose Lifeline, Inc., http://www.overdose-lifeline.org, +1 844 - 554 - 3354, [email protected]
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