(West Palm Beach, FL) – Hanley Foundation, a statewide leader in substance use disorder prevention, education, and advocacy for access to quality treatment, recently announced the launch of Project C4OPE, a program designed to connect families who share the experience of a loved one who has died of opioid overdose, survived an overdose, or are at high risk for overdose. Palm Beach County leads the state in opioid-related overdose deaths, with more than 600 recorded in 2017 alone and more than 5,000 total opioid overdoses recorded in 2016.
Families in the opioid crisis from across Palm Beach County are invited to connect at Origins Resource Center in West Palm Beach on April 26th, from 6:30-8 p.m., for the first gathering of Project C4OPE, an opportunity for them to express their needs and wants around the topic of opioid overdose. The meeting is free and open to the public with advance reservation. The first forum will inform future topics for the continuation of the series in other locations throughout Palm Beach County.
Under the direction of Hanley Foundation educator Barbara Shafer, the Project C4OPE sessions will offer a safe place for families to discuss overdose prevention and education topics of interest. The program was announced during the 2018 SUD Talks, held Saturday, April 7, at Florida Atlantic University and is funded through a grant from Palm Beach County and the Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network.
“We understand that the individual who has experienced an overdose is not the only one who has endured a traumatic event,” said Jan Cairnes, CEO of Hanley Foundation. “Family members often feel judged or inadequate because they could not prevent their loved one’s overdose. It is important for the community and families to work together to obtain support following an overdose, or education on preventing a future overdose.”
Following the initial Project C4OPE session on April 26, Hanley Foundation facilitators and group leaders will host ongoing forums in four Palm Beach County geographic areas: encompassing communities in the north, central, south and western areas. Monthly events – to be announced as dates and locations are scheduled – will involve discussion of topics including:
- Strengthening our understanding of the opioid epidemic
- Non-addictive strategies to manage chronic pain
- Raising the level of opioid prescriber education
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- Overdose-reversing medications
- Other topics identified as important by the family members
As Project C4OPE forums expand, Hanley Foundation expects to begin introducing new programming — including opioid and alcohol prevention programming to children aging out of the foster care system and parenting programming through homeless shelters.
For more information about Project C4OPE, please visit https://hanleyfoundation.org/our-work/support-groups/project-cope/ or call 561-268-2355.
