While the public has a sense of what the opioid epidemic entails, clear and strong messaging is important to help reduce stigma and raise fact-based, appropriate awareness. The Community Education and Prevention Committee collaborates with media partners and the community at large to educate on the harm reduction, prevention, and the overall status of the opioid epidemic in Western New York.
Committee Goals:
- Educate the community about opioid epidemic trends in Erie County and substance use disorders in general
- Provide awareness, guidance and direction to those directly and indirectly impacted by the epidemic
- Promote, encourage, and educate the community about prevention
Committee Projects
Public Service Announcements
The Community Education and Prevention Committee produces educational videos to inform and acquaint the community with the epidemic, involving local individuals with lived experience to personalize messages. These videos are spread and shared with the media, universities, nonprofits and other organizations.
Medication Safety Campaign from WNY Prevention Resource Center
Take it to the Box
- Developed with the Western New York Prevention Resources Coalition
- Advocating and educating for safe use, storage, and disposal of medication
- Aiming to decrease substance use by appropriate disposal efforts through drug and needle disposal kiosks
Media Education on the Opioid Epidemic
With the opioid epidemic touching everyone’s lives in some form, news and media sources frequently use stigmatizing, dehumanizing language about people with substance use disorders. While informing the public is valuable, media outlets benefit from continual education about appropriate language and images to keep from encouraging stigma.
Media Visits
- The committee frequently educates media sources on:
- Destigmatizing language
- Appropriate imagery and stock photos
- Information on the appropriate resources and agencies to use as resources
- Words Matter
- An important resource for terms to use and avoid for reducing stigma.
- Harm Reduction Resources Flyer
Contact
The Community Education and Prevention Committee is led by:
Barbara Burns
Public Affairs Officer
US Attorney’s Office Western Region of New York
Email: Barbara.Burns@usdoj.gov