Families around the United States available to speak to elected officials, press, and families in grief. Video series launches at Broken-No-More.org.
Even as historic overdose rates are beginning to fall, legislatures around the country are looking at reinstituting failed policies such as mandatory minimums, despite the fact that incarceration actually drives overdose. The risk of overdose death is up to ten times higher for people who were recently incarcerated than for the general public. Factors for higher risk of overdose include loss of tolerance to opioids while incarcerated and possible disruptions to health care services while behind bars.
In response, families who have lost a loved one to overdose are sharing their stories in a series of powerful videos being released by Broken No More, an organization comprised of thousands of families across the country who have lost loved ones to overdose.
The Broken No More testimonial videos feature families who share their love, pain, and loss, and explain why they support health solutions to the overdose crisis instead of criminalization and incarceration. The videos end with the message, “Families Support Harm Reduction, Not Prison. Say Yes to Policies that Work.”
“I personally know the devasting pain of losing a loved one to preventable overdose, and I’m determined to do what I can to prevent that for any other person,” said Tamara Olt, M.D., Executive Director of GRASP/ Broken No More, who lost her 16-year-old son Josh to an overdose. “Our families are sharing our stories to let elected officials, the press and other families know that we advocate for a health-based approach to substance use disorder instead of relying on the failed playbook of punishment and incarceration. The war on drugs—really a war on people—must be abandoned now. Harm reduction, access to treatment, and a safe supply are necessary if we want to decrease overdose deaths.”
The families featured in the videos are:
The videos come out as states across the country are debating how to reduce overdose deaths. Many state legislatures across the country are pushing long mandatory minimum sentences and drug induced homicide laws that charge people with murder when someone dies of an overdose.
In September, GRASP (Grief Recovery After Substance Passing) and Broken No More held a three-day conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico titled, “Healing Hearts, Changing Paths Conference,” that brought together family members who have lost loved ones to overdose, advocates, and drug policy experts to discuss the overdose crisis. During the event, attendees engaged in discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities aimed at fostering understanding, support and resilience in the face of loss. With a dual focus on addressing personal grief and advocating for drug policy reform, the conference offered support for those navigating grief, and a desire to work towards change in drug policies.
Vital Strategies, a global health organization working to support health-centered solutions to the overdose crisis, is partnering with Broken No More on a range of activities from the video series to supporting their recent conference.
“Broken No More provides an invaluable service by offering love and support to families feeling the devastation of losing a loved one to overdose, said Tony Newman, communications director at Vital Strategies’ Overdose Prevention Program. “We are also inspired by their strength and courage in advocating for compassion and proven health solutions to the overdose crisis instead of criminalization and incarceration.”
About Broken No More
Broken No More is an organization formed by families and friends of those suffering from a substance use disorder. We have lived the trauma of addiction with our loved ones and we have experienced the devastating effects caused by the drug policies of prohibition and criminalization. Far too many of us have experienced the loss of a loved one from overdose because of these policies. Broken No More was formed with the mission of supporting and promoting more enlightened drug policies that will reduce the stigma of drug use and keep other parents and family members from losing the one they love to overdose. Learn more at broken-no-more.org.
About Vital Strategies
Vital Strategies is a global health organization that believes every person should be protected by a strong public health system. Our overdose prevention program works to strengthen and scale evidence-based, data-driven policies and interventions to create equitable and sustainable reductions in overdose deaths. Work across seven U.S. states is supported by funding from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Overdose Prevention Initiative, launched in 2018, and by targeted investments from other partners.
Learn more at vitalstrategies.org/programs/overdose-prevention.
To find out more, please visit vitalstrategies.org or X (Twitter) @VitalStrat.