Community Impact Summit

Communities across the U.S. continue to face a devastating addiction and overdose crisis that demands bold, innovative action. The Mississippi Gulf Coast is no exception to this epidemic and continues to be highlighted as a “high-incident” area that requires intensive aid and support. Addressing this issue head-on with evidence-based strategies that expand access to life-saving overdose reversal medications and provide essential pathways from overdose to care – i.e., from “Rescue to Recovery” – is critical.

The Reach Impact Institute, in partnership with Singing River Health System, Fund Recovery, Mississippi Public Health Institute and the National Institute for Behavioral Health, aims to disrupt this “high-incident” trend in the Mississippi Gulf Coast through its Community Impact Summits. Overdose prevention vending machines are an effective, low-barrier strategy to provide free life-saving supplies (e.g., Naloxone) directly into the hands of community members—meeting people where they are and reducing overdose deaths. This powerful joint initiative brings communities together to help transform access to Naloxone.

Please join us on March 20th for a unique opportunity to meet and engage with local stakeholders and community champions at all levels and to learn more about this critical initiative, and the benefits of implementing harm reduction strategies that help save lives. By working together, we hope to break-down stigma and greatly improve the health of Mississippians.