Database reveals details of the billions of opioids that have saturated our nation between 2006 through 2012.
Shatterproof released the following statement as a reaction to The Washington Post article, regarding the Automation of Reports and Consolidated Order System, known as ARCOS findings released Tuesday night.
“The Washington Post article reveals clear heinous, criminal distribution that has visibly contributed, if not caused, the crisis our country is facing with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). The fact that these companies and our federal government were tracking this distribution for a decade is abominable. Sadly, we cannot change the past – we can only focus on the millions of Americans who now have OUD and their families and create strategies and actions that will prevent this for generations to come. Shatterproof is at the forefront of reversing this crisis for the 1 in 3 families impacted by OUD,” said Gary Mendell, Founder & CEO of Shatterproof.
“Shatterproof is committed to advocating for better policies and laws for treatment both at the state level and federally, and we are building an addiction treatment quality measurement system to help families navigate to find quality and evidence-based treatment. Additionally, and perhaps most significant, we are launching a national strategy to address what the Surgeon General says is the primary cause of death in this country – stigma. It is important that America understand that OUD is a disease and it will take all of us to come together as a country and open our hearts and minds to help more people seek treatment for recovery. Governments, employers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement and our education systems need to make structural changes that will address stigma. It is time that we leave politics at the door and come together as a country with compassion and actionable change to reverse this awful reality.”
Gary Mendell is available for interviews today.
About Gary Mendell:
Gary Mendell is the founder and CEO of Shatterproof. He founded Shatterproof to spare others the tragedy his family suffered with the loss of his son Brian to addiction in 2011. He is a frequent speaker on how our society can end the stigma unjustly associated with addiction, has been honored numerous times for his leadership related to reversing the course of the opioid epidemic, testified in front of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis and is a frequent commentator in the media. Mr. Mendell also serves on the Executive Advisory Board of the University of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI). He is an experienced businessman and CEO who founded HEI Hotels & Resorts and is the former president of Starwood Lodging Trust.
About Shatterproof:
Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the devastation addiction causes families. Shatterproof is focused on ending the stigma of addiction and ensuring treatment in America is based upon proven research. The organization advocates for changes to federal and state policy, payer reform, provider ratings, and provides public education through family and workplace programs.
