Pittsburgh PA 15222
The nation’s opioid crisis did not result overnight. A “perfect storm” has been brewing and sweeping our nation for decades and Pennsylvania is being hit hard. Currently, the state possesses the fourth-highest rate of drug overdose. On average, 13 Pennsylvanians die each day and more than half of the drug overdoses occur due to opioid misuse. Stakeholders are working diligently to combat this crisis, but resources are limited, data and systems remain fragmented, and policies are outdated.
Philanthropy can make a significant difference in fighting this epidemic but a common understanding of the severity and urgency of this issue at the national, state, and county level is imperative to facilitate potential solutions.
Eden Hall Foundation spent the summer researching the state of the opioid crisis in Southwestern Pennsylvania. An informal scan of local services and resources that prevent and treat opioid addiction, along with extensive meetings with issue experts across sectors, contributed to a better understanding of this extremely complex issue and the current continuum of care for individuals with substance use disorders. Data from entities like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Drug Enforcement Agency, Allegheny County Health Department, and many others affirm the need for a coordinated and multifaceted response. Through Eden Hall Foundation’s work, a library that both presents the facts regarding the state of this crisis and identifies proven, promising, and innovative prevention and treatment strategies to address the opioid/substance use disorder crisis has been compiled.
Join us in this discussion as Eden Hall Foundation shares critical findings to date.
This will be a brown-bag meeting, so please feel free to bring your lunch. Drinks and desserts will be provided.