Opiod Awareness
The “It’s Our Problem Too” campaign focuses on multiple aspects of wellness, including mental health, community support, and education on substance abuse prevention and treatment. By partnering with local health departments, community organizations, and healthcare providers, the campaign aims to create a comprehensive support system.
WHAT WE KNOW
The rate of increase of African American drug overdose deaths between 2015-2016 was 40 percent compared to the overall population increase at 21 percent. Following in 2018, 1.2 million non-Hispanic Blacks and 10.3 million people nationally, aged 12 and older, were estimated to have had opioid misuse in the past year. This exceeded all other racial and ethnic population groups in the U.S. during this time period. For this reason, the NAMMWA provides an opioid awareness campaign that uses culturally relevant messaging and creative visual elements to make all aware of the state of opioid usage amongst the African American community and provides education on how to support those who have been identified with a struggle with opioid addiction. In addition to our awareness campaign we have established a network of treatment centers and mental health services to ensure that our campaign is supported with available services for all in need.
about
OUR PROGRAM
The Black community has seen a 214% increase in opioid overdose deaths in the past decade, highlighting the urgency of our It's Our Problem Too initiative. This program focuses on addressing the opioid dependency crisis within the Black community. By providing education, resources, and support, we aim to combat addiction and promote recovery, emphasizing that opioid dependency is a collective issue requiring collective action.
This includes offering educational workshops, mental health resources, and connecting individuals with treatment programs. We are committed to reducing the impact of the opioid crisis on Black men and fostering a healthier, more informed community by:
We organize community resource fairs in local neighborhoods and housing developments. Fair attendees participate in community conversations, learn about naloxone distribution and education, and access critical resources.
We organize community Narcan trainings and distribution in barbershops, salons, churches, corner stores, local businesses, and plazas in the heart of high-risk communities.
We develop a resource guide to highlight safe syringe disposal, naloxone distribution, fentanyl test strips, and treatment facilities. We distribute these guides in barbershops, salons, churches, community organizations, and directly to residents.
We break the stigma through a special campaign by sharing prevention education, resources, and testimonials both online and throughout the community.
Get Involved
You can make a difference in the health and safety of your community. Here’s how:
Bring “It’s Our Problem Too” to your city:
Arm your community against the fight against the opioid epidemic. Contact Dana Lavender, Program Director, at dlavender@ncusolutions.com to get started.
Take the Opioid Awareness Community pledge:
Affirm your commitment to raising awareness for substance abuse within the black community. Take the pledge
Sign up for texts from AAMWA:
Stay in the loop on AAMWA volunteer opportunities, events, news, and more! Register Now
Take The Pledge
Black People are dying from Opioid Overdoses in our community ad we are here to spread awareness and fight the crisis together.
“The number of fentanyl-related accidental overdose deaths among African American residents of Franklin County was 2 and a half times greater in 2020 than in 2018.”
