On January 25th, 2019, my beautiful daughter Kerri Elizabeth Fernley lost her life to an accidental overdose.
We’re harnessing the inherent power of storytelling to lift the voices of those impacted by addiction, illustrate barriers, offer solutions and inspire others to take action.
On January 25th, 2019, my beautiful daughter Kerri Elizabeth Fernley lost her life to an accidental overdose.
“I lost my brother to an overdose in December 2004, when he was just 22. I was a freshman in college. My family was turned upside down.”
“Over the last few years, I spent all of my energy and resources trying to support my son, and, frankly, keep him alive.”
Youth are unprepared for the widespread proliferation of deadly fentanyl
Substances containing fentanyl are increasingly driving overdose deaths
Legal and regulatory restrictions create barriers to accessing life-saving methadone treatment
Many people with substance use disorder end up involved with the criminal justice system, where they are typically subject to an approach that is punitive, rather than health-promoting.
The overdose crisis is a national tragedy but the government has not lowered flags to fly at half-staff, a customary recognition of tragedy.
Because addiction treatment is separate from the rest of the health care system, finding quality treatment can be challenging.