---
title: Impacting The Opioid Epidemic
description: Tragic stories of loss at the hands of opioids have become all too common. It's a massive problem impacting our friends, families, communities, & the workforce.
image: https://www.thegibsonedge.com/hubfs/blog-files/Opioid%20Epidemic%20-%20FB.jpg
---

[**](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/impacting-the-opioid-epidemic#tmpmodule_1568675152246189)

- [Client Login](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/gibson-client-login)
- [Contact Us](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/contact)

****

[![Gibson Logo](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gibson%20UNISON%20Co_Horiz_Logo_Gold_White-1.png?width=2518&height=1088&name=Gibson%20UNISON%20Co_Horiz_Logo_Gold_White-1.png)

![Gibson Logo](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gibson%20UNISON%20Co_Horiz_Logo_Gold_White-1.png?width=2518&height=1088&name=Gibson%20UNISON%20Co_Horiz_Logo_Gold_White-1.png) 

](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/)

[**](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/impacting-the-opioid-epidemic#tmpmodule_1568675152246189)

- [Services](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/services)
    - [Employee Benefits](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/services/employee-benefits)
    - [Business Insurance](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/services/business-insurance)
    - [Private Client Group](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/services/private-client-group)
- [Industries](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/industries)
- [Insights & News](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog)
    - [Insights & News](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog)
    - [Webinars](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/webinars)
    - [Podcast](https://podcast.thegibsonedge.com)
- [About Us](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/about-us)
    - [Become a Partner](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/become-a-partner)
    - [Leadership](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/leadership)
    - [Community Impact](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/impact)
    - [Sightline](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/sightline)
    - [About URA](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/ura)
    - [Offices](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/offices)
- [Careers](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/careers)

**

###### 2 min read

# [Impacting The Opioid Epidemic](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/impacting-the-opioid-epidemic)

 Nov 6, 2017 6:30:00 AM

![Opioid Epidemic - FB.jpg](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-files/Opioid%20Epidemic%20-%20FB.jpg?width=302&height=225&name=Opioid%20Epidemic%20-%20FB.jpg)Tragic stories of loss at the hands of opioids have become all too common. The misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, specifically opioids, has become an epidemic. It is a massive problem impacting our friends, families, communities, and the workforce.

Every day, 91 Americans die from opioid overdose. A study by the [U.S. Department of Health & Human Services](https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/about-the-epidemic/index.html) and the [Centers for Disease Control & Prevention](https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html) reports 12.5 million Americans misused prescription opioids in 2015 and 33,091 people died from overdosing on these medications. In Indiana alone, more than 1 in 20 people report having engaged in nonmedical use of opioid pain relievers. And as the [Indy Star](https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2017/09/24/state-addiction-confronting-indianas-opioid-crisis/689648001/) shares, “The number of Hoosiers who have died from drug poisoning has increased 500 percent since 1999. More people now die in Indiana from drug poisoning than in car accidents.”

This isn’t just a public health issue. It is more pervasive. There’s no clear answer, no single solution. It will require a collaborative effort to address. Fortunately, we’ve started to see the epidemic being discussed at the local, state, and national stage, but there’s still a long way to go.

What can be done right now to help keep your family and workforce safe? You can talk about the issue and share stories of its impact. Stories like that of the Savage family from Granger, Indiana. With permission, [we’re sharing their story](https://525foundation.org/) about how they lost their two oldest sons to a combination of alcohol and a prescription opioid.

They have since created the [525 Foundation](https://525foundation.org/) to raise awareness. The goal is to prevent another family from having to endure their pain. Through outreach, education, and support, they are actively working to put an end to this epidemic.

We can all take a page out of their book. Let’s encourage families, schools, and employers to help prevent more tragedy by starting conversations and getting educated to support the fight against this terrible epidemic.

###### Topics: [Commercial Insurance](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/commercial-insurance) [Risk Management](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/risk-management) [Employee Benefits](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/employee-benefits) [Personal Insurance & Risk Management](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/personal-insurance-risk-management)

![Gibson](https://via.placeholder.com/100x100.jpg/e0e7ee)

#### Written by [Gibson](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/author/gibson)

Gibson is a team of risk management and employee benefits professionals with a passion for helping leaders look beyond what others see and get to the proactive side of insurance. Gibson is driven by close relationships with clients, employees, and the communities they serve. The first Gibson office opened in 1933 in northern Indiana, and as the company’s reach grew, so did their team. Today, Gibson serves clients across the country from offices in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, and Utah.

[**](https://www.facebook.com/TheGibsonEdge) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/68297) [**](https://twitter.com/TheGibsonEdge)

###### [** Previous Post](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/whos-watching-your-blind-spots)

[![Blind Spots - FB.jpg](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/507386/CLEAN-images/gfx/feat-img-temp.jpg)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/whos-watching-your-blind-spots)

###### [Who’s Watching Your Blind Spots?](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/whos-watching-your-blind-spots)

###### [Next Post **](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/5-hacks-to-a-better-attitude)

[![5 Hacks To A Better Attitude - FB.jpg](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/507386/CLEAN-images/gfx/feat-img-temp.jpg)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/5-hacks-to-a-better-attitude)

###### [5 Hacks To A Better Attitude](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/5-hacks-to-a-better-attitude)

### Featured

### Posts by Tag

- [Executive (587)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/executive)
- [Risk Management (320)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/risk-management)
- [Personal Insurance & Risk Management (158)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/personal-insurance-risk-management)
- [Employee Benefits (154)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/employee-benefits)
- [Commercial Insurance (127)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/commercial-insurance)
- [Health Risk Management (111)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/health-risk-management)
- [Construction (66)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/construction)
- [Workers' Compensation (51)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/workers-compensation)
- [Health Care Reform (48)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/health-care-reform)
- [Unison Risk Advisors (45)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/unison-risk-advisors)
- [Commercial Risk Management (39)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/commercial-risk-management)
- [Claims (32)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/claims)
- [Schools (28)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/schools)
- [#DisasterReady (25)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/disasterready)
- [ESOP (24)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/esop)
- [Health & Human Services (23)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/health-human-services)
- [Social Media (18)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/social-media)
- [Personal Insurance (15)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/personal-insurance)
- [HHS (14)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/hhs)
- [Risk Management Services (12)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/risk-management-services)
- [Select Business Solutions (12)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/select-business-solutions)
- [Uncategorized (12)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/uncategorized)
- [Wellbeing (11)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/wellbeing)
- [WhatsTheRisk (11)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/whatstherisk)
- [Leadership (10)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/leadership)
- [Senior Care (10)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/senior-care)
- [Contract Review (8)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/contract-review)
- [Private Client Group (8)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/private-client-group)
- [Senior Living (7)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/senior-living)
- [manufacturing (6)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/manufacturing)
- [Cyber (5)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/cyber)
- [Education & Public Entities (5)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/education-public-entities)
- [Employee Benefits Practice (5)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/employee-benefits-practice)
- [M&A (5)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/ma)
- [Accounting Support (4)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/accounting-support)
- [Payroll (4)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/payroll)
- [Construction & Surety (2)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/construction-surety)
- [Finance (2)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/finance)
- [HR Platform (2)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/hr-platform)
- [Holiday (2)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/holiday)
- [PR (2)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/pr)
- [Small Employee Benefits Group (2)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/small-employee-benefits-group)
- [Administration (1)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/administration)
- [Community (1)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/community)
- [Get to know us (M&A) (1)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/get-to-know-us-ma)
- [HR Solutions (1)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/hr-solutions)
- [Leadership Team (1)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/leadership-team)
- [Life Insurance (1)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/life-insurance)
- [SME (1)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/sme)
- [Technology (1)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/technology)
- [hidden (1)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/topic/hidden)

[See all](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/impacting-the-opioid-epidemic#)

### Sign up for updates

[![Gibson A Unison Risk Advisors Company Logo](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gibson%20UNISON%20Co_Horiz_Logo_Gold_White.png?width=188&height=81&name=Gibson%20UNISON%20Co_Horiz_Logo_Gold_White.png)](https://www.thegibsonedge.com)

 

- [ARIZONA](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/contact#fort-wayne)
- [ILLINOIS](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/contact#chicago)
- [INDIANA](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/contact#fort-wayne)
- [MICHIGAN](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/contact#kalamazoo)
- [NEW MEXICO](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/offices#new-mexico)
- [UTAH](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/contact#salt-lake-city)

- [Privacy Policy](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/privacy-policy)
- [Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/limit-the-use-of-my-sensitive-personal-information)
- [Legal Notices](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/legal-notices)
- [Standard Service Terms](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/standard-service-terms)
- [Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/do-not-sell-or-share-my-personal-information)

Copyright © 2026 Gibson Insurance Agency, Inc.

[**](https://www.facebook.com/gibsoninsurance)[**](https://www.linkedin.com/companies/68297)

**

![](https://ws.zoominfo.com/pixel/61ae53c3513e3b001ae3f064)