Washington, DC – Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) has joined the Stop Opioid Silence campaign for a renewed push in Georgia to empower people to break the stigma associated with opioid use disorder and begin the road to recovery.
“Opioids affect every community in our country, and we must do all we can to keep our families whole and to help heal those who have been impacted by the opioid crisis,” said McBath. “I am proud to participate in the Stop Opioid Silence campaign to help bring attention to this epidemic, assist those who need treatment, and work to end this crisis.”
Opioid use disorder and opioid related death continue to be a problem in Georgia, even after progress made in recent years. In 2018, Georgia suffered 867 opioid related deaths compared to 1,014 in 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These deaths continue to impact Georgians across the state, in both urban and rural communities. The SOS campaign is a safe forum for people and their families to speak up about their struggles to help themselves and others.
“The holiday season can be particularly emotional and lonely for individuals and families struggling with addiction. By sharing the stories of people impacted by opioids, we not only raise awareness of the magnitude of this crisis but we also help to shatter the silence that surrounds this disease and prevents so many from getting the help that they need for themselves or a loved one,” said Marcia Lee Taylor, Executive Vice President of External and Government Relations at Center on Addiction + Partnership for Drug Free Kids. “We are proud to be working with Facebook as well as the five members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation to reduce stigma and shame and connect Georgia residents to resources and support.”
With bipartisan support from five members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation, including Representatives Buddy Carter (GA-01), Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), Rep. Rob Woodall (GA-07) and Rep. Jody Hice (GA-10), Stop Opioid Silence encourages residents struggling with opioid use disorders, as well as their families, to share their stories of addiction and recovery.
“It was an honor to join the SOS Campaign to help combat the stigma surrounding opioid addiction. For a long time, there has been a deafening silence on this issue. But the time is now to take a stand and change the narrative,” said Woodall. “By raising your voice and sharing your story, you can inspire others to do the same. Together, in a unified push, we can help the millions of Americans affected by the opioid crisis seek proper treatment and begin recovery.”
“This is a full-blown crisis that demands the attention of Congress,” said Johnson. “The opioid crisis affects everyone. It cuts across all communities regardless of race, income, faith and zip code. I applaud Facebook and Partnership for Drug-Free Kids + Center on Addiction for working to transform how the nation addresses addiction.”
Kevin Martin, Vice President for Public Policy at Facebook, stated, “Facebook is proud to be working on such an important campaign with Representatives Buddy Carter, Hank Johnson, Lucy McBath, Rob Woodall, and Jody Hice. By using the Facebook platform to bolster the Stop Opioid Silence campaign, Partnership for Drug Free Kids is able to reach so many more people in Georgia and across the country affected by this epidemic.”
Stop Opioid Silence was created by Facebook and the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids + Center on Addiction, a leading national nonprofit working to transform how the nation addresses addiction. The organizations have teamed up to launch StopOpioidSilence.org and a “Get Help” messenger bot which connects people all over the country, including Georgians, with information about addiction, treatment, recovery, and support resources in their state.
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