Project Opioid And Florida Blue Foundation Launch Jacksonville Program To Address Opioid Crisis

From The JAX Chamber:

May 6, 2021

Jacksonville is one of five regions in Florida included in the expansion of Project Opioid, a Central Florida-based coalition created to confront the opioid overdose crisis in communities across the state.

A grant awarded by the Florida Blue Foundation has funded the program’s expansion and Regional Super Advocates have been designated in Florida’s largest markets— Jacksonville, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami.

As Jacksonville’s designated Regional Super Advocate, the JAX Chamber has hired TJ Ward to lead the program as Advocacy Director. In the role, Ward will develop strategies and collaborations to address the rising increase in opioid overdoses and deaths and work to reduce the stigma of overdoses in the region.

Ward, a Jacksonville native, has moved back to join the JAX Chamber after living in North Carolina where he worked in a talent development role and as the CEO and Founding Pastor of New Church in Winston-Salem for 10 years. Before moving to North Carolina, Ward served as principal and director of faculty and student development at Eagle’s View Academy from 1998-2008 and as associate pastor and operations manager for Macedonia Baptist Church from 2008-2010.

“Opioid abuse touches nearly every single family in some capacity – it doesn’t matter who you are, what you do for a living or where you live,” JAX Chamber President and CEO Daniel Davis said. “We thank the Florida Blue Foundation for their support for this position and bringing the business community in to be part of the solution. TJ has been serving his community his entire career and this role is another important way for him to serve.”

The Florida Blue Foundation has invested $1.7 million to support the Project Opioid initiative in communities throughout Florida. “By launching regional coalitions across Florida, the Foundation can support local needs as well as facilitate learning and collaboration among the coalitions to enhance the initiative’s impact,” said Florida Blue Foundation Vice President Susan Towler.

Project Opioid’s expansion comes as recent numbers reveal that COVID-19 has caused the number of opioid deaths in the state to reach deadly heights. It is estimated that 55 people per day died from a drug overdose in Florida in 2020, a 59% increase in drug overdoses from 2019.

“The number of overdose deaths we are seeing across the state of Florida is unprecedented,” said Andrae Bailey, founder and CEO of Project Opioid. “The mental health anguish from COVID-19 has caused Floridians, predominantly Millennials, to turn to drugs to cope. These drugs, particularly when they contain fentanyl, are killing our young residents in record numbers and it is time for community leaders to step up and help solve this crisis.”

About Florida Blue Foundation

Florida Blue Foundation enables healthy communities by making grants, building coalitions and embracing solutions that create a meaningful impact in our communities. More than 6.5 million Floridians have received services as a result of our community investments since our founding in 2001. The Florida Blue Foundation’s programs are focused on advancing mental well-being, improving health equity, impacting food security and addressing systemic racism and resulting health disparities. It is a trade name of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit www.FloridaBlueFoundation.com.

About JAX Chamber

The JAX Chamber is the business membership organization dedicated to driving quality economic growth in Northeast Florida to make this region the best place to live, work and play. Membership provides the opportunity to connect with and buy from other Chamber members. The connections result in business growth and a more prosperous economy.

This press release was produced by The JAX Chamber. The views expressed here are the author’s own.