As part of the 2017 Philanthropy Roundtable annual meeting, Alexa Eggleston, Senior Program Officer for our Substance Use Prevention Initiative, spoke on a panel entitled, “A Culture in Crisis: How Philanthropy Can Combat the Opioid Epidemic.” This panel explored the unique role philanthropy can play in finding and implementing solutions for the opioid crisis that is prevalent throughout the United States.
Our work in prevention aims to advance early intervention to prevent and reduce substance use disorders among teens and young adults. In the below video from the annual meeting, Eggleston highlights how national funders can respond to the opioid epidemic in meaningful ways. Philanthropy has the ability to fund and further evidence-based initiatives, which are vital for effective substance use prevention and early intervention among youth.
Since 2013, the Foundation has partnered with local and state funders to implement the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) approach in hospitals, school-based health clinics and other settings to prevent youth substance use nationwide. It is through these partnerships with funders and grantees that the philanthropic sector can effectively combat the opioid crisis.