Broken No More’s Pre-Mother’s Day Press Conference opposing punitive drug laws and supporting health-based policies was moving and powerful. Mothers who have lost loved ones to overdose urged lawmakers to halt the influx of draconian drug laws that will not reduce overdose deaths but will instead fill our prisons without helping those struggling with substance use disorder. If you want to understand the harms of punitive drug laws and how policies based on public health, Harm Reduction, and science will keep our loved ones safe and alive then this video is well worth your time.

“On the eve of Mother’s Day, I am starkly reminded that a piece of my heart is missing… On April 29th, 2012, I lost my 16 year old son Josh to overdose. Since that time, I’ve worked constantly to spare other families from the tragic loss.” said Tamara Olt, M.D., Executive Director of Broken No More. “I oppose the criminalization of drug use and advocate for a public health response, including treatment on demand, safe use sites, harm reduction, and a safe supply. We must stop imposing harsher penalties and filling our prisons with people who use and sell drugs.”

Broken No More would like to thank our panelists who participated in the press conference:

• Diannee Carden Glenn, Founder of ekiM for Change, a syringe service program in North Carolina. Diannee lost her 40-year-old son, Michael, to an overdose. (North Carolina)
• Aimee Dunkle, Board Member of Broken No More. Aimee lost her 20-year-old son, Ben, to an overdose. (California)
• Tamara Olt, M.D., Executive Director of Broken No More. Tamara lost her 16-year-old son Josh to an overdose. (Illinois)
• Susan Ousterman, Founder of Vilhomah Foundation. Susan lost her 24-year-old son, Tyler, to an overdose. (Pennsylvania)
• Marilyn Reyes, Co-Director Peer Network Of New York, VOCAL-NY Board Member. Marilyn lost the father of her son to an overdose. (New York)

You can watch a Zoom recording of the press conference (link opens on the Vital Strategies Zoom page).