Emergent BioSolutions Takes a Stand Against the Opioid Epidemic on International Overdose Awareness Day
Today, Emergent BioSolutions recognizes International Overdose Awareness Day, as part of Overdose Awareness Week, and the dedicated efforts of lifestyle influencer Dani Schaffer to address the stigma of opioid overdoses and support people who may be at risk or know someone at risk of an accidental opioid overdose. Schaffer shares her personal experience of losing her brother due to an accidental opioid overdose in the public education campaign, Reverse the Silence, which raises awareness of overdose risks associated with opioid use. An alliance of national nonprofit organizations, CADCA, Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse, SAFE Project, Shatterproof have teamed up with Emergent to help reverse the silence with television and radio awareness segments airing across the country.
“When my younger brother, Scott, died of an accidental overdose in 2018 at the age of 33, a part of me died with him, but anyone who knows me knows that passiveness in the wake of tragedy is against my beliefs,” said Dani Schaffer. “I’m proud to stand side-by-side with an alliance of national nonprofit organizations and campaign sponsor, Emergent BioSolutions, to encourage others to talk about the risks of opioid overdose and important ways that people can be prepared in the event of an opioid emergency, because we are losing more and more lives every day.”
International Overdose Awareness Day aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths. The most recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over 93,000 Americans lost their lives to a drug overdose in 2020, of which 8 in 10 deaths involved opioids, including prescription opioids (natural and semi-synthetic opioids, and methadone), heroin, and synthetic opioids (primarily illicit fentanyl).
“Emergent BioSolutions is committed to increasing awareness, access, and availability of the tools available to combat the devastating effects of the opioid epidemic, and Reverse the Silence was created to educate and support the public to help stop overdoses,” said Doug White, SVP and devices business unit head at Emergent BioSolutions. “Dani Schaffer’s personal story is far too relatable for so many people, and part of our mission at Emergent is to help more individuals at-risk, their family members and friends be prepared to prevent an emergency overdose event.”
For more information about the Reverse the Silence campaign, visit: www.ReverseSilence.org
About Emergent BioSolutions
Emergent BioSolutions is a global life sciences company whose mission is to protect and enhance life. Through our specialty products and contract development and manufacturing services, we are dedicated to providing solutions that address public health threats. Through social responsibility, we aim to build healthier and safer communities. We aspire to deliver peace of mind to our patients and customers so they can focus on what’s most important in their lives. In working together, we envision protecting or enhancing 1 billion lives by 2030.
For more information, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
About The Alliance
The Alliance was formed between Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse (MAPDA), SAFE Project and Shatterproof. These national nonprofit organizations share a commitment to combat drug abuse and to spare other Americans of the opioid epidemic that has devastated so many communities across the country. Visit the links provided to learn more about each organization.