IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT OVERDOSE
David Michael Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing prescription drug overdose and combating the opioid epidemic.
Need immediate help?
Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Our Challenge
The American Opioid Epidemic
Every day, 128 Americans die of an opioid overdose. Even more alarming, 1 out of 3 opioid overdoses were from legally prescribed medications[1]. Today, opioid misuse, addiction, and overdose deaths has led the President to declare the opioid crisis a national public health emergency.
Most Americans do not have the financial capability to pay for recommended addiction and substance abuse treatment out-of-pocket. These individuals need guidance and support on how to prevent addiction and overdose, gain access to treatment programs and maintain recovery afterwards. David Michael Foundation is a program in direct response to the growing number of people that need this support.
Our Mission
Combating Opioid Deaths
The complexities of “solving” the opioid overdose crisis can be summed up in one question: How do we decrease opioid misuse while still humanely and ethically treating the millions of people who need prescription opioids to manage chronic pain?
We believe the answer lies in addressing the nexus of addiction prevention, treatment, and supporting ongoing recovery.
David Michael Foundation’s goal is to provide resources for those in need and their loved ones to prevent the tragic loss of life from addiction relapse, opioid overdose death, or prescription drug abuse related suicide.
Our Plan
Preventing The Tragedy of Overdose
David Michael Foundation is focused on three goals:
- Empowering individuals, treatment providers, and communities to prevent opioid misuse and overdose through technological advancement
- Ending the culture of fear and misinformation surrounding addiction, which often presents a barrier to treatment for those in need and often leads to relapse or suicide
- Providing resources & support for those struggling to maintain sobriety in addiction recovery
130+
People died every day from opioid-related drug overdoses ( estimated )
10.3 M
People misused prescription opioids in 2018
808,000
People used heroin in 2018
2 M
People had an opioid use disorder in 2018
47,600
People died from overdosing on opioids
81,000
People used heroin for the first time
15,349
Deaths attributed to overdosing on heroin (in 12-month period ending February 2019)
2 M
People misused prescription opioids for the first time
32,565
Deaths attributed to overdosing on synthetic opioids other than methadone (in12-months period ending February 2019)
Sources
- 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Mortality in the United States. 2018
- NCHS Data Brief No. 329, November 2018
- NCHS, National Vital Statistics System. Estimates for 2018 and 2019 are based on provisional data
Updated October 2019. For more information, visit: http://www.hhs.gov/opioids/