OPIOID CAMPAIGN
THE OPIOID OVERDOSE CRISIS
ADDICTION AND DEATH ON A MASS SCALE
More than 130 people die each day in the United States after overdosing on opioids. More than 70,000 people died of drug overdoses in 2017 -- nearly 10 times the number in 1979 -- with more than 47,000 of these overdoses involving opioids. Opioid overdose deaths now exceed the number of deaths due to car accidents (about 40,000 in 2017) or g…
Read More »LI-CAN'S RESPONSE
TOO MANY FUNERALS
In 2016, congregations and non-profits involved in LI-CAN began to share stories about the growing opioid overdose crisis on Long Island. Nearly 400 people had died on Long Island in 2015. (That number escalated sharply, to more than 600 in 2017, before declining in 2018.) More and more families and congregations were being affected.
Interfaith clergy discussed …
Read More »Priorities
WHAT IS NEEDED TO REVERSE THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC
FIVE TOP PRIORITIES
- Congregations and schools must lead the way in breaking through the stigma and shame surrounding addiction and in educating families and youth about substance use. [This work is underway!]
- Educational leaders must develop and implement comprehensive K-12 substance use prevention and harm reduction plans, working toge…
