North Cobb Christian School and DisposeRx made a powerful statement in the fight against opioid abuse during North Cobb’s Friday night football game. They became the first school in Georgia to launch the national Coaches vs Overdoses program, which targets preventing drug overdoses and non-medical use of prescription opioids, through a comprehensive approach of prevention education and proper drug disposal. Notably, this initiative has quickly gained traction with four hundred schools across five states as part of a pilot program.
Missy Owen of the Davis Direction Foundation.
As fans entered the game, they were provided with DisposeRx in-home drug disposal packets, a vital tool for the safe disposal of unused prescription medications in the home. These kits can be used immediately when it is decided a drug is no longer needed, ensuring that it can be thrown away in the trash without the risk of misuse and overdose.
In addition to the DisposeRx packets, students and their families also received a “prevention playbook” containing information on opioid misuse, counterfeit pills, and the dangers of fentanyl and other emerging drug trends. This resource serves as a valuable conversation starter between parents, coaches, and students.
Ann Hamlin of DisposeRx partnered with Missy Owen of the Davis Direction Foundation to spread the word to young people that the opioid crisis is fueled by the misuse of prescription drugs. Coaches vs Overdoses focuses on high school athletes as they are often introduced to opioids or pain medication through a sports injury, a common source of teenage addiction.
According to FOX5 Atlanta, Jimmy Keane, the Assistant Athletic Director at North Cobb Christian, wholeheartedly supports the program’s mission, emphasizing the importance of educating young individuals about the realities of opioid abuse, irrespective of their backgrounds. He believes it’s crucial for students to understand the gravity of these issues, both now and in the future.
Missy Owen’s ultimate goal is to expand the Coaches vs Overdoses program statewide, aiming to replicate the success of the initiative in North Cobb Christian School as a model for combating the opioid crisis in communities across Georgia and the United States.
On the field… in the diamond… and on the court
DisposeRx’s youth prevention programs are not limited to just football. In Delaware, DisposeRx and Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long tipped off basketball season with the Bench Opioids Initiative. As part of the campaign, Delaware’s most decorated football player, NFL Hall of Famer Randy White, shared his personal story of loss through overdose.
Related story: Opioid Prevention and Disposal Program to Tip Off at Delaware High School Basketball Championships
Ready… Set…
Even if you’re not a coach or in Georgia, you can help. Contact DisposeRx today to find out how combining youth athletics and drug disposal education can reduce medication misuse or ask your participating pharmacist about DisposeRx in-home drug disposal packets.
