End Overdose's chapter program is vital to our success in equipping young people with lifesaving education and resources. Rather than proselytizing from a soapbox to Gen-Z and Millennial communities, we trust young people in cities and on college campuses to spread the word through a true peer-to-peer model. With 50 chapters nationwide, members and volunteers are committing hours upon hours to End Overdose's cause, so we want to highlight a chapter every week.
This week, we're proud to highlight our Atlanta chapter! Founded by president Jill Stevenson, she was inspired to make a difference with End Overdose in the wake of personal tragedy. Now regularly training ATLiens everywhere from the Beltline to night clubs, her chapter is constantly pushing to make the community safer. We spoke with Jill about her personal story and her chapter's work below!
EO: What sparked your interest in overdose prevention/response and End Overdose in particular?
Jill Stevenson: In March 2022, I lost my sister, Amanda, to an overdose, which left me with overwhelming grief that I needed to channel into something constructive. At the time, I didn’t know much about Naloxone, so I began researching harm reduction groups in my area. I discovered End Overdose on Instagram and was particularly drawn to their strong presence within the EDM and nightlife communities—spaces I’ve been a part of for over a decade. Their branding, messaging, and ability to connect with the audience who most needs to hear it felt authentic and impactful. What resonated even more was that many of the staff and volunteers are part of the scene themselves. Hearing this message from peers with lived experience makes it that much more meaningful. End Overdose has given me a profound sense of purpose and a meaningful way to honor my sister’s memory. Every person I’ve trained carries her legacy forward.
EO: Can you describe your experience as chapter president of Atlanta? How has it been building the chapter from the ground up?
After discovering End Overdose, I immediately knew I wanted to get involved. I reached out to EO to host a fundraiser, and on April 29, 2023, I organized the first End Overdose event in Atlanta at one of the city’s most iconic nightclubs, District Atlanta. It was a day party on the outdoor patio, featuring nine local DJs, a food truck, and an incredible turnout. We raised over $4,000 in donations and trained 130 attendees in overdose prevention. The event marked the true beginning of our local chapter. Seeing the community’s enthusiasm and willingness to learn and contribute made it clear that this was just the start. Reflecting on the past year and the number of people we’ve been able to train, I’m deeply grateful to EO for believing in me and to all the volunteers, venues, and communities that have made this journey possible.
EO: How have you developed authentic connections with the Atlanta community?
JS: Being part of the music scene for a while, I initially reached out to personal connections, and from there, everything grew through word of mouth and networking. Lately, most of the connections I’ve built have come from tabling at events or simply bringing up End Overdose in casual conversations. Unfortunately, so many lives have been impacted by an overdose that most people I talk to want to get involved or help in some way. By having open, vulnerable conversations and sharing my own story, I’ve been able to form deeper, more authentic connections with the people I meet.
EO: You’ve set up some amazing collaborations and events, ranging from a VicBlends video to tabling for Illenium. What’re the major highlights from your chapter’s work to date, whether it’s in night life or the general community?
JS: We’ve had the privilege of collaborating with some truly incredible artists like Ravenscoon, Illenium, VicBlends, William Black, Elvie Shane, and Anthony Green, just to name a few. We’ve also trained staff at several iconic Atlanta venues, like Tongue and Groove, District, Believe Music Hall, and Underground Atlanta, with more exciting partnerships on the horizon, including a collaboration with DEF. One of our standout initiatives was hosting an industry night specifically for training nightlife workers in overdose prevention. While these collaborations are all remarkable, what stands out most to me is our time spent directly in the community. We’ve recently partnered with Connect Atlanta and Atlanta EDM to table at their monthly “Beats on the Beltline” event—a free, all-day event open to the public. Engaging with people face-to-face at events like this is what I find most fulfilling about our work at End Overdose.
EO: What do you envision for the future of the Atlanta chapter?
JS: We’re really just getting started. My vision is to train the staff at every local bar, venue, and club in Atlanta. We already have a great ongoing partnership with Believe Music Hall, where we regularly table at their events, but I’d love to expand and create more consistent collaborations across the city. Right now, our focus is on growing our team of volunteers so we can increase our presence at events. In the future, I also want to branch out beyond the music scene by offering training sessions at schools and recovery homes. My ultimate goal is to make overdose education resources accessible to everyone and to break the stigma around discussing overdose prevention, response, and education. No one else has to die.