More than 100,000 people died over a 12-month period from fatal drug overdoses for the first time in U.S. history, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

Experts blame the continuing surge on the spread of more dangerous street drugs and on disruptions to drug treatment programs caused by the pandemic.

This year alone DEA has seized enough fentanyl to provide every member of the U.S. population with a lethal dose

Read the full article here.

A recent article released by WTOP reported that a chemist in D.C.’s crime lab has discovered a new synthetic opioid being used on the streets of the District. The lab immediately alerted first responders about the possibility the drug could be resistant to the lifesaving antidote Narcan.

“Every few weeks, we’re seeing something that we haven’t seen before … you can definitely see that there’s consistent changes in the drug supply here in the District,” said supervisory chemist Morgan Levitas, of the Public Health Program, run within D.C.’s Department of Forensic Sciences.

Read the full article here.

A recent article released by CNN explains how fentanyl use exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic, while Americans were locked down. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl - a painkiller 50-100 times more potent than morphine - accounted for the bulk of those drug overdose deaths, around 64,000.

"In a crisis of this magnitude, those already taking drugs may take higher amounts and those in recovery may relapse. It's a phenomenon we've seen and perhaps could have predicted," Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, told CNN.

Read the full article here.

Second Genesis Foundation is a proud supporter of the ‘Living the Example’ contest, which was created to celebrate and empower youth to stay drug-free.

The contest is organized by Mentor Foundation USA to give young people the opportunity to showcase how they are “living the example” and making a difference in their community.

Let every young person in your life know about this fantastic contest where they have the chance of winning a $500 cash prize and an experience that truly is "out of this world"!

Learn more here.

Last week, our Advisory Board hosted a special screening of our independent feature film project -WRITTEN-OFF, at Kino Coffee, a boutique cinema coffee shop located in the heart of Arlington.

WRITTEN-OFF made its debut at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. in 2017. The film challenges the stigma of opiate addiction by unraveling the intricate web of a single addiction story.

The screening was followed by an intimate Q&A with Rob Lyall and Molly Hermann, the directors of WRITTEN-OFF.  Watch the WRITTEN-OFF trailer here.

To request a free screening for your school, please contact us directly.

Every year, millions of people across the globe show up on #GivingTuesday to give back and change their communities. The goal is to create a massive wave of generosity that lasts well beyond that day, and touches every person on the planet.

We hope you will join us on November 30th as we raise support for families and individuals impacted by substance abuse. Every dollar raised, no matter the amount, during #GIVINGTUESDAY will be matched up to $5,000 by Terra Site Constructors, as part of their ongoing commitment to support the communities they helped to build.

Each act of kindness means more when we give together. Together we will unleash generosity and help support those in need.

Pledge your support here

After a 2-year renovation, the DEA Museum is now again open to the public, and we promise - it is a new must-visit destination!

The Museum, which originally debuted in 1999, has been reimagined by staff and partners to engage and educate the public in a colorful, contemporary space.

Interactive exhibits featuring hands-on activities, artifacts, and diverse, personal histories make the Museum a modern and compelling exploration of the long, dynamic history of drug use, misuse, and law enforcement unlike any other.

The Museum welcomes visitors of all ages—with FREE admission. www.museum.dea.gov.

Curious to learn more about the origin of the opioid epidemic? From Executive Producer Danny Strong and starring Michael Keaton, “Dopesick” examines how one company triggered the worst drug epidemic in American history. 

The series takes viewers to the epicenter of America’s struggle with opioid addiction, from the boardrooms of Big Pharma, to a distressed Virginia mining community, to the hallways of the DEA. 

You can watch the trailer for the series here. Now streaming on on Hulu and on Disney+.