Letter from the CEO

Just a few short years ago we set out with the bold vision to reduce overdose deaths by 50%, and now through all our hard work, we are finally seeing a reduction.  Less overdoses. Less families losing their children. More hope for a world where no lives are lost to addiction.

Our luncheon this past month was another check-in point on this journey — an opportunity for us to look at where we are as a community: what successes we’ve had, what the data is telling us, and what work lies ahead.  To see a packed ballroom withbusiness, political and community leaders coming together to learn about where we are, and to encourage each other forward, was a reminder that we are on the right path.

I know I was not alone in being moved by the stories of the young people whose lives have been changed by Tina Miller and the supportive community at the recovery high school she created.  The moist eyes in the audience brought home the importance of sharing these Stories with Impact. I was honored to celebrate the contributions of Congressman Gus Bilirakis, who has personally secured millions in federal funding for increased access to treatment for substance use.

But as we know, though the numbers are improving, one life lost is one too many, and we are not even yet back to pre-pandemic numbers. However, in looking around the room, I saw the leaders of Tampa Bay, those with the power to make change in our community, and a willingness to do so.

I left the luncheon with a renewed sense of purpose to rededicate myself to this fight, and I ask the same of all of you. Overdose deaths are increasing in the 60+ community; naloxone is not everywhere that it is needed, and a recent drug bust in Manatee County was found to have enough fentanyl to “kill the entire Tampa area,” according to Manatee Sheriff Rick Well.  The work continues. Our region needs us to continue.

So, may this victory fuel us for what must be done next.  Our big push is learning to measure success in this epidemic.  On April 17^th, we will kick off our efforts by hosting Dr. David Best in a virtual webinar on “Recovery Capital.” Please join us in learning more about the ways we can measure our effort to create healthier communities through measuring recovery capitol, not just number of deaths. Giving ourselves metrics and data on how we gauge success is one of the important next steps we all can take – one that reframes our conversation from how to stop people from dying to how we give them the tools to really live.

With Gratitude,