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Addressing the Opioid Crisis One Community at a Time 

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Addressing the Opioid Crisis One Community at a Time 

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How might we address the issue of opioid addiction and drug abuse in young adults/ adults in Franklin County, MA?

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My project is necessary because my community has been struggling with drug abuse and opioid addiction for quite a long time now. I've noticed that its something that many people who are unaffected by it approach with great judgement and insensitivity. Living on a campus where privilege is so prevalent, I feel that it is truly necessary to make a strong effort to educate the people around me and take action to reduce stigma, improve the lives of those in need who the project serves, and bring the community further together to bring about change.

Another important thing to note is that many drug addictions begin with opioid use. For many, opioid addiction is a stepping stone for more potent drugs. Like heroin, for example.

There are multiple contributing factors that serve as root causes of high rates of opioid addiction in Greenfield, MA. The main ones being: homelessness, lack of regulation of opioids, stigma and a lack of education about opioid usage and the dangers of addiction and abuse.

My project addresses or works to solve this by spreading awareness about the crisis, educating the community, and positively impacting the lives of those most affected by opioid addiction, whether that be people who struggle with addiction themselves or people who know and are close with people who struggle with addiction. In order to figure out the best possible ways to make positive impacts, my project would partner with educators and health professionals who know a lot about the opioid crisis. It is of great importance that people know about the dangers of opioids and understand how to use them safely, as well as the warning signs of addiction and what early action should look like if a person may be developing an addiction to a substance. It is also important that community members make an effort to serve those in need because it helps non-directly-affected individuals understand others' perspectives, encourages empathy building, and helps to humanize people who are immediately affected by opioid addiction. Part of what contributes to perpetuating the opioid crisis in Franklin County is the stigma surrounding serious drug abuse and homelessness so having a big aspect of the project be about service really helps to reduce that stigma.

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My first SMART Goal is
By mid-2024, I will create a team of at least 25 people of different ages from around Franklin County who will:
1. Engage in community service to provide care and resources to people most affected by the opioid crisis/opioid addiction
2. Organize events to spread awareness about the opioid crisis
3. Educate themselves and others on the dangers of opioid use amongst other things
4. Spread awareness in their neighborhoods and other communities they are a part of

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My second SMART Goal is

By 2025, I will successfully establish an opioid addiction awareness and crisis mitigation group in Greenfield which will actively serve community members in need who struggle with opioid abuse or have loved ones who do and take action to limit opioid addiction rates by at least 5 percent.

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The first step will be to research opioid addiction, the opioid crisis in the US, and opioid abuse in Greenfield. I will also reach out to professionals in the area and hopefully interview some people who have struggled with opioid addiction or know somebody who did who can share their personal stories and talk about the needs involved in their stories. I will also reach out to existing organizations and groups that do similar work to see if we can establish any partnerships or learn anything from one another. This is an essential step in the process because it will make planning easier and will help me serve my community members in the best way possible.

Time: I will start step one during Spring of 2023
and complete step one during Summer of 2023.

Resources: I will need access to a computer and databases, willing participants for interviews, and social media in order to complete this step.

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Step Two: Planning and Initial Movements 

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Step Two: Planning and Initial Movements 

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The second step will be to plan, using my knowledge and all the information I have collected over the last few months, exactly what I want my projects initial movements to be. In other words, I will plan out events, plan how I will advertise my project in order to get people to join as volunteers, and will figure out exactly what I want to do. This step is important because it will help me get a great idea of what I want to achieve with the project, as well as show me what is possible and what may not be super attainable.

Time: I will start step two on early fall of 2024
and complete step two on late fall of 2024.

Resources: I will need to be able to communicate with people who are already part of existing organizations to brainstorm events and action plans to complete this step.

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Step Three: Getting started in the community! 

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Step Three: Getting started in the community! 

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The third step will be to find at least three other people to join me in my efforts. We will do everything in my first SMART goal:
1. Engage in community service to provide care and resources to people most affected by the opioid crisis/opioid addiction
2. Organize events to spread awareness about the opioid crisis
3. Educate themselves and others on the dangers of opioid use amongst other things
4. Spread awareness in their neighborhoods and other communities they are a part of

Time: I will start step three on Winter 2024
and complete step three on Summer 2024

Resources: I will need supplies for poster making, somebody to help with planning and organizing events, help from local government and healthcare professionals to complete this step.