Overdose deaths have reached record highs, and more than 75% are linked to opioids. In 2021, there were over 106,000 overdose deaths, equivalent to 292 per day. Of the 8.9 million people who misused opioids in 2022, the vast majority misused prescription pain relievers. Additionally, increasing numbers of these deaths, particularly among youth, are due to counterfeit illicit pills that individuals believe to be oxycontin, Xanax, benzodiazepines or other substances, but that contain lethal doses of fentanyl. As a result, reducing young people’s initiation of any type of medicine misuse is more critical and urgent than ever.
The Partnership to End Addiction (formerly the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids) has been addressing the opioid epidemic since the early 2000s, and in 2012 brought together a group of partners from the public and private sectors to form the Medicine Abuse Project. This national action campaign aims to reduce teen initiation of medicine misuse. It provides comprehensive resources for parents and caregivers, law enforcement officials, health care providers, educators and others so that everyone can take a stand and help end this epidemic.
How are we doing?
Download our report on the activities and successes of the Medicine Abuse Project.
To support health care providers, the Partnership created an education campaign specifically for opioid prescribers. Search and Rescue provides medical professionals with the tools and resources they need to help patients avoid prescription drug misuse and addiction.
Funding Partners
On behalf of the families we serve, thank you to all of the partners who make our work possible.
Interested in becoming a part of the Medicine Abuse Project? Learn more about partnership opportunities.
Gold $250K
Silver $100K
Bronze $50K
Champion $25K
Government partners
Bureau of Justice Alliance
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Food and Drug Administration
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH)
Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
U.S. Department of Justice Office of U.S. Attorneys
National partners
Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP)
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
American Association of Poison Control Centers
American College of Emergency Physicians
American College of Preventative Medicine
American Dental Association (ADA)
The American Medicine Chest Challenge
American Society of Anesthesiologists
Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies
Caron Treatment Centers
Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies
Healthcare Distribution Alliance
International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators
National Association of Attorneys General
Aware Rx Prescription Drug Safety Program
National Association of Drug Court Professionals
National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators
National Association of Student Nurses
National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
National Association of State Controlled Substances Authorities
National Council on Patient Information and Education
National Narcotics Officers’ Associations’ Coalition
National Education Association Health Information Network
Safe Homes Coalition
The Herren Project
The Mario Do Right Foundation
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse Family Day
Treatment Research Institute
State and local partners
ACT Missouri
Alianza Para Un Puerto Rico Sin Drogas
Any Lab Test Now!
Behind the Orange Curtain
Center for Addiction Recovery and Education
California Friday Night Live Partnership
Colorado Meth Project
Denver Resource for Awareness and Prevention
Drug Overdose Prevention Education
Drug-Free Arizona
Fighting Addiction Through Education (FATE)
The Governor’s Prevention Partnership
HC Drug Free
Hope2Gether Foundation
Office of Drug Control Policy
Massachusetts Medical Society
Montana Meth Project
Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse
Mount Airy, NC Police Department
P.E.A.C.E. Foundation
Palm Beach County Substance Awareness Coalition
Partnership at Drug-Free Iowa.org
Drug-Free NC
Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey
Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services
Pine State Marketing
Power of Pain Foundation
Prevent! The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Clark County
Prevention First
Recovered4Life
Substance Abuse Free Environment (SAFE)
Save a Star Drug Awareness Foundation
Schuylkill Prevention Partnership
Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness
The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families
The Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
The Generation Rx Initiative
The Skeeterhawk Experiment
Wyoming Meth Project