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Hoosier mother honored nationally for overdose prevention, saving lives

Justin Phillips started Overdose Lifeline after she lost her son to an overdose in 2013.

INDIANAPOLIS — March is Women's History Month. The month highlights the work of powerful women who have an impact on their community. 

Justin Phillips is the founder of Overdose Lifeline, an Indiana nonprofit that helps people affected by addiction and substance abuse.

Phillips started Overdose Lifeline after she lost her son to an overdose in 2013. 

"I didn't understand opioids, the potential for loss of life, and it's really a preventable cause of death. So, I just took my pain around losing Aaron and my skillset around injury prevention and started Overdose Lifeline," Phillips said.

Overdose Lifeline works to provide access to the overdose reversal drug, Naloxone or Narcan. It also offers programs for people suffering from addiction, offering a home for mothers and their babies, and even camps.

Credit: Justin Phillips

Camp Mariposa is a year-round addiction prevention and mentoring program for youth affected by substance abuse of family member. 

She helped pass Aaron's Law that allows people to go anywhere to access Naloxone. 

"When Aaron lost his life in 2013, you needed a prescription from a physician to have Naloxone on hand in the event of an overdose. That's not a real scenario for people who are misusing drugs. They have too much shame and stigma," Phillips said. 

Phillips was named one of USA Today's Women of the Year for her work in normalizing a stigmatized issue. 

"I do my best to make a difference in Aaron's memory and also in honor of all the other lives we have lost," Phillips said.

The cause was again in the national spotlight when Phillips was the guest of Doug Emhoff, second gentleman of the United States, at President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on March 7.

"The message is that you are not alone. You don't need to feel judged or stigmatized for this challenge in your life. You can find a community," Phillips said. "We have resources, and we understand."

For resources, tools and to donate or volunteer, click here.

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