Opioid Response Training Offered To Faith Communities

Jill Sheridan

Article origination IPBS-RJC

Overdose Lifeline executive director Justin Phillips says faith groups are "a natural place" for people with a substance use disorder to go for help.
*FILE PHOTO: Lindsey Wright/WTIU*

An Indiana non-profit is touring the state to bring opioid education and tools to faith based communities.

Overdose Lifeline will visit seven different faith organizations across the state. Executive director Justin Phillips says churches have been asking how to engage their community regarding the opioid epidemic.

"Armed with information, they'll have a solution," Phillips says. "We had a gentleman say to us the other day I don't know how to help', so we feel like these regional trainings are opportunities to help."

The sessions provide information on how the crisis has impacted the state and program training to prevent and respond to addiction.

"Substance use disorder is stigmatized, so I might not be as willing to openly admit but it's a natural place for people to go for help," she says.

Overdose Lifeline worked with the Indiana State Department of Health and Indiana University's Prevention Insights to offer the workshops.

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