Dear Friend,

Today, I have been in recovery for six years. When I was struggling with addiction, I reached out for help, but help was rarely available. There weren’t enough treatment providers, my insurance didn’t cover it, or waitlists were months-long!  Now, President Trump is making these barriers insurmountable as he and Congress gut funding for addiction and overdose prevention services. 

My story isn’t unique, but what feels unique is that I am alive. I think of parents like Susan Ousterman. She lost her son Tyler to an accidental fentanyl and xylazine overdose. He, too, sought help to recover but met so many barriers.  

That’s why for National Fentanyl Awareness Day, we’re coming together to ask that the Trump administration prioritize health-based services, not gut them. Nearly 500 families have already signed a petition. If you lost a loved one to overdose, will you sign?  

I agree with President Trump that fentanyl is a real concern. However, his administration’s focus on enforcement while gutting treatment, health and overdose prevention services is going to cost more lives, spiral addiction, and create more suffering in our communities.  

To save lives, here’s what President Trump must do instead. He can reduce the harms of fentanyl with health-based solutions that can keep our loved ones safe and healthy, including:  

• Investing in addiction services. A full range of addiction services—including counseling, medications, long-term treatment, and recovery housing—should be available to individuals. 

• Expanding access to addiction medications. Medications like methadone and buprenorphine promote recovery and save lives by reducing opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms, while cutting overdose risk in half.   

• Addressing the root causes of fentanyl use. Ensuring people have access to housing, community, mental health services, and jobs can help address why people are using. 

We also know public education around drugs is crucial for us to understand this crisis and make safer, informed choices. We encourage you to check out and share our other resources around fentanyl, including our: 

• fentanyl factsheet that prioritizes facts over stigma 

• discussion with an addiction medicine specialist, Dr. Goodman-Meza 

• and Q&A with DPA Executive Director Kassandra Frederique on the Trump funding cuts.  

Fentanyl is a real concern, and we will continue to fight for solutions that keep people safe, healthy and alive. Having struggled myself, I know how critical it is for those seeking help to actually get the treatment and overdose prevention services they need instead of more barriers.