Dita Bhargava is a parent advocate living in Cos Cob, CT, with her two children and husband. In 2018, Dita lost her oldest son, Alec, on his 26th birthday to fentanyl poisoning while he was living in a sober home in Canaan, CT. Since his passing, Dita has been working on creating awareness around substance use and mental health disorders. Through her non-profit work with Shatterproof, Connecticut Women's Consortium, and Liberation Programs, she brought together federal and state legislators, public health representatives, law enforcement officials, and residents across CT to offer education and solutions to the opioid pandemic. She has also actively worked with the CT legislature to help enact policy around SUD and mental health issues. Dita helped to bring ATLAS to CT, a Shatterproof program that provides essential resources to help families find the best care and treatment for their loved ones.
Dita has served as an advisor on several committees, including a Technical Panel Expert committee for SAMSHA, the Human Services Policy Transition Committee for Governor Lamont, and the Medscape Advisory Board for Mental Wellness. Recently, she joined an intimate parent advocate meeting with VP Kamala Harris in the White House West Wing offices to discuss the multi-pronged aspects of the opioid pandemic, including the fentanyl crisis, standards of care in treatment centers, and the need for better education and awareness.
