It is devastating to learn that 112,000 people in our country lost their lives to an overdose during the one-year period that ended in May 2023, according to new estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These losses include family members, friends and colleagues — each individual is not just a statistic. Many of these overdoses were caused by synthetic opioids, specifically fentanyl, which is often added to opioids and stimulants without the consumer’s knowledge. While these numbers are staggering, this is a crisis that can be significantly abated if we take critical steps to start saving lives immediately.

Shatterproof has already been implementing solutions and has a roadmap to save more lives, including:

• Investing in quality, evidence-based treatment, including Shatterproof Treatment Atlas, the only tool in the U.S. that helps people see if a facility is offering services that have proven to be effective in treating addiction. The platform is free and confidential, and currently available to more than 130 million people.
• Integrating care for mental health and substance use disorders into the primary care setting.
• Reducing stigma through the Shatterproof Addiction Stigma Index, the first-of-its-kind, largest and most expansive survey ever fielded on addiction stigma, and the Shatterproof Addiction Language Guide to end the use of stigmatizing language.
• Raising awareness in workplaces through Just Five, an easy-to-use program intended to reduce stigma and provide information about treatment and prevention techniques in just five minutes.
• Decreasing overdose deaths and harm through evidence-based interventions.
• Preventing addiction by investing in youth prevention.
• Increasing access to naloxone, the life-saving medication that can reverse opiate overdoses by blocking their effects on the brain.

Equally important to these policies and programs, Shatterproof offers free life-saving tools on its website, at its Find Help section. There, individuals or loved ones can determine if it is time to seek treatment, learn about the different types of treatment available, identify the right treatment provider based on quality metrics, and discover how to pay for treatment  and get support that is available as loved ones navigate an overwhelming time.

Additionally, Shatterproof honors those lost through the National Addiction Memorial, a place to share photos and the stories of loved ones lost to substance use disorders. In lieu of flowers, loved ones can create a page for their family members and friends in loving memory and encourage donations to help end this devastating crisis.

CONTACT:
Lauren Lawson-Zilai
Shatterproof
press@shatterproof.org 

ABOUT SHATTERPROOF:

Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in the U.S. Shatterproof is focused on guiding communities, removing systemic barriers to recovery, mobilizing the country to advocate for change, and ending addiction stigma in the U.S. Find Shatterproof on Facebook, X and YouTube @ShatterproofHQ or follow us on Instagram at @weareshatterproof. To learn more, visit www.Shatterproof.org. If you are experiencing anxiety, depression or a substance use disorder, text SHATTERPROOF TO 741741 for help.