Comment by Gary Mendell, founder & CEO, Shatterproof
Gary Mendell, founder and CEO of Shatterproof, a national nonprofit dedicated to reversing the course of the addiction crisis in America, released the following statement on this morning’s last-minute settlement made by four drug companies.
“It’s imperative that any funds to come out of these settlements be directed into communities in order to help people currently addicted to opioids and prevent others from becoming addicted. This money should only be spent on evidence-based treatment such as medications, considered to be the gold standard of treatment for opioid use disorder. Settlement funds should be used to increase access to medications and other research-backed approaches that will save lives, reduce stigma and promote recovery,” said Gary Mendell, founder and CEO, Shatterproof.
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 reversing the course of the addiction crisis in America. Shatterproof is focused on ensuring treatment in America is based upon proven research on and ending the stigma of addiction. The organization advocates for changes to federal and state policy, payer reform, treatment quality assessment, and provides public education through family and workplace programs.
