Supporting safe, healthy communities
Opioid & Substance Use Awareness
Education, prevention, and resources to reduce substance misuse and support recovery.
Our Opioid & Substance Use Awareness Program focuses on prevention, education, and connecting individuals and families to support resources. Substance misuse can affect anyone, and understanding the risks, signs, and available help is an important step in keeping our communities safe and healthy.
We provide education on safe medication use, proper storage and disposal, and the risks associated with opioids and other substances. As part of this work, we partner with local schools and community groups to share real-life experiences that highlight how substance misuse can begin. For example, we’ve hosted speaker Paul Weishapl, who shared his personal journey with opioid addiction that began after being prescribed medication for a high school sports injury. Stories like these help raise awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage open conversations around prevention and support.
Paul Wishapl, posing with students from Riverside High School. Paul shared his experiences with opioid addiction after being prescribed medication for an injury.
​Our program also shares information on recognizing the signs of overdose and how to respond, including access to life-saving tools like naloxone when available. Whether you’re looking for information, support for yourself or a loved one, or resources for prevention and recovery, our team is here to help without judgment and with confidentiality.