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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 Millennials, 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, our members and volunteers are committing endless hours to End Overdose's cause, so we want to highlight a chapter every week.
Today, we're proud to highlight our chapter at Colorado State University! We spoke with founder and co-president Adam Harkins about discovering End Overdose, his chapter training over 1,000 people through campus and nightlife outreach, and much more.
End Overdose: What sparked your interest in overdose prevention/response and End Overdose in particular?
Adam Harkins: I found an interest in overdose prevention about a year ago. I was disappointed by the rising number of overdoses in my community and at the events I attended. I found End Overdose and appreciated their values of community engagement and compassionate messaging. I saw End Overdose as being an invaluable asset to the Fort Collins/Larimer community and decided to apply. Being a part of End Overdose has been beneficial for my chapter members and I. It’s nice to be able to connect with our community on a personal level and be able to equip them with the resources they need to prevent overdoses. It has also been an opportunity to get to know fellow community members. We have built partnerships with the other people and organizations working on this problem and it is refreshing to see how many people are working to end overdose.
EO: Can you describe your experience as chapter president of CSU? How has it been building the chapter from the ground up on campus?
AH: My co-president, Jorja Whyte, and I have found this experience to be quite rewarding! Building this chapter was one of the best decisions we have made. We have worked very hard to turn this chapter into what it is, and I think we underestimated the challenge that faced us. But we wouldn’t trade this for the world. We are grateful to have a space where we can connect with others across campus who are also interested in overdose prevention. The chapter has given both of us the chance to grow even more as leaders and make lasting bonds along the way. That is such a special feeling, and we are grateful to be a part of such a wonderful organization! If you are reading this and considering starting a chapter, don’t wait! You have the ability to make a tangible impact in your community.
EO: How have you developed authentic connections within the community?
AH: We have found authenticity through partnerships and community outreach. We have met a lot of other people, through other organizations, that are passionate about overdose prevention. For us, this has been invaluable and allowed us to learn so much while building relationships. We have also worked hard to connect with our community on a personal level. Each person has a story and understanding these stories helps us better connect with our community and provide solutions to problems they may be facing. We value authenticity in our work and believe that it is crucial to creating meaningful change in our community.
EO: What’re the major highlights from your chapter’s work to date?
AH: We have done a lot in the 8 months since the chapter first started. We began with 5 members and our amazing advisor Ariel. We have since grown to 12 members, with two subcommittees. Between last semester and the first part of this semester, we have distributed over 600 doses and trained more than 1200 people. We have worked with Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), S.A.F.E., Active Minds, and Crown The Foundation to name a few. Our chapter members, who I am privileged to work with, give so much more than their time to this organization. This has been a labor of love, and I know many of us have spent countless hours each week working. We are a small team, but we work hard because we fully believe in the organization that we are a part of and the work that we do.
EO: What do you envision for the future of your chapter?
AH: I hope that this chapter will continue to grow and flourish after I graduate. When you work so hard on something, you become really attached to it. But I also hope that future leadership does things differently. Organizations are so wonderful because of the people that comprise them. Through this, they become diverse and grow to have their own personalities. I hope that the CSU chapter does the same. I hope that we continue to approach every situation with understanding and empathy. Overdose is a sensitive subject, and it is important that we support our community in every way we can. Lastly, I hope that our members continue to find value in the work that we do and grow the chapter for the benefit of future generations. We can do so much good, and we will continue to work hard because No One Else Has To Die.