County welcomes Coaches vs. Overdoses initiative in fight against drug overdoses

The Pulaski County Office of Prevention and Recovery joins Pulaski County High School’s basketball program to highlight the County’s efforts to defeat overdoses with the Coaches vs. Overdoses initiative. The initiative, offered by the Attorney General’s Office focuses on empowering parents, coaches, and athletes with information on the risks of fake pills and other illicit drugs.

The Office of Prevention and Recovery, along with Olivia Bailey from the office of AG Miyares and Ryan McPeak with Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, provide attendees with information, resources, and talking points to help bring awareness to the dangers of fentanyl, fake pills, counterfeit vapes, and other illicit drugs. Additionally, coaches across the Pulaski County School system will be provided with materials to help them identify and combat student-athlete substance use. Katie Thompson, Director of the Office of Prevention and Recovery hopes this initiative will help coaches and parents have meaningful conversations and engage student-

athletes as prevention leaders. “Student athletes are under a tremendous amount of pressure and are often held to extraordinary standards to perform in every aspect of their lives. We know this puts them at a higher risk of utilizing substances to enhance performance and maintain attention and energy for long days. But we also know that these students are often role models for their peers and have a strong influence on youth in the community. It is vital that we provide coaches, parents, and students with the talking points and information to make healthy and safe choices. We have an opportunity to empower athletic leaders – students and coaches – to be a voice of change!”

The first Coaches vs Overdoses event was held during the December 2 boys’ game. Attendees could pick up resources and talk with office representatives through the JV game and during the first half of the varsity game. Attendees shared their own experiences with fentanyl and illicit drug use and many showed support for continued conversations. The next Coaches vs Overdoses event will be Tuesday, December 16 during the girls’ JV and Varsity basketball games. The table will be set up in the lobby before and throughout the JV game and into half time of the Varsity game.

 

This is year four of the Coaches vs. Overdoses campaign, which began after Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy White lost a family member to a fake pill and has decided to use a personal tragedy to help others.

The Office of Prevention and Recovery was created in Fall of 2024 with a mission to empower citizens to thrive through whole-family support with connections to meaningful opportunities and a community of care and increased prevention – building resilience, lasting healing, and overall well-being for generations. With a focus on a collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach, the Office of Prevention and Recovery brings together community partners to improve citizen access to mental health, prevention and recovery services, and multi-generational programs to create a healthy future for all of Pulaski County.