Overview
Since the founder's son’s death in 2014 to an accidental heroin overdose, it has been H.E.A.L.: Stop Heroin's mission to share with the community our story in order to educate and spread awareness about the dangers of opiates and other harmful drugs both legal and illegal. We want to empower others with the knowledge that we have gained throughout this journey for the purpose of prevention, early intervention, and harm reduction.​ Our vision is to witness the end of the opioid epidemic and to break the silence and erase the stigma of Substance Use Disorder.​
Featured Articles & Highlights
Teammate Testimonials
"When my husband and I lost our son Michael in 2014 to an accidental overdose of heroin and Xanax, we were devastated. We had two choices: continue drowning in our grief or reach out and break the stigma. We found that many others in our community were facing the same loss. Through talking and learning, we realized that if we'd known then what we know now, we might have prevented our son's fate. That’s why we started H.E.A.L.: STOP HEROIN—to educate others and spread awareness to prevent more tragedies. Helping others has become our therapy, our purpose, and how we honor our son’s memory."
Patti F,
President & Volunteer
"My wife and I founded H.E.A.L.: STOP HEROIN in 2018 in memory of our son, Michael, who we lost to an accidental overdose of heroin and Xanax in 2014. For nearly a year and a half, we struggled to talk about it due to the stigma around substance use. As the opioid crisis worsened, we realized we weren’t alone, thanks to the DEA's Strategy 360 program. H.E.A.L.: STOP HEROIN focuses on preventing deaths through education, prevention, and harm reduction. Spreading awareness and reducing stigma has become part of our healing journey. Remember – Prevent – End the Stigma."
Ellis F,
Executive Director
"Hi, I'm Larry, and I've been volunteering with H.E.A.L.: STOP HEROIN for a couple of years. As a Certified Peer Specialist and someone who’s been in recovery for 34 years, I love sharing my story and helping educate others about addiction. H.E.A.L.: STOP HEROIN, founded by Ellis and Patti after losing their son to an overdose, provides resources like Fentanyl test strips and medicine locking bags. I particularly enjoy participating in teen summits, where we talk about addiction and teens sign a pledge to stay drug-free. Volunteering with H.E.A.L. allows me to connect with others, share my journey, and show that recovery is possible."
Larry,
Volunteer