On Friday the Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative (RALI) of Washington launched its newly formed coalition comprised of community leaders, healthcare stakeholders and other organizations that are coming together to address our state’s opioid epidemic.

RALI Washington held its community launch event at the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle. The event focused on the importance of complete solutions to address the opioid crisis.

“For too long, we’ve viewed the opioid epidemic through a narrow lens, with a one-dimensional approach that has proven unsuccessful,” said Michelle Merriweather, CEO and President of Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, a RALI partner. “The RALI program aims to bring together the voices and experts in the community to find a comprehensive solution to treatment, prevention and recovery.”

The newly established RALI of Washington program will serve as a platform to share best practices for impacted communities and aims to transform today’s disparate approach into an all-encompassing effort that elevates the most effective programs.

“We’ve witnessed our family members, friends and our own children die as a result of the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs,” said Rep. Pettigrew (D-Seattle). “And as we all know in this room, more often than not leads to addiction of illicit drugs.”

RALI Washington is the industry’s first-line effort to join community voices and experts to find a wholistic solution to solving one of our state’s most pressing issues.

“The opioid epidemic is going to take a multiprong approach that employs various strategies to create lasting change,” said Raiko Mendoza, Vice-President Business Development and Membership at Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). “CADCA has always focused on primary prevention and we hope our partnership with RALI of Washington will be a model for other organizations and communities of how to enhance local prevention efforts. Together, we can build healthier, safe drug-free communities.”

The event also focused on education about properly disposing of unused prescription medications. Experts say this is one of the keys to stopping misuse, which in turn helps prevent addiction.

For more information about RALI of Washington, please visit www.raliwa.org

About RALI Washington

The Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative (RALI) of Washington is a convening organization of community and advocacy leaders working to address our nation’s opioid crisis. RALI Washington will engage a number of stakeholders, including anti-addiction groups, caregivers, patients, law enforcement, first responders, EMTs, labor unions, employers, health care providers, veterans, and civic organizations, among others. We are committed to helping to implement programs that save lives and prevent the misuse of prescription opioids.

Partners include:

Addiction Policy Forum
Code 3 Association
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)
Generations United
IUOE Local 302 Washington, Alaska and Idaho
NAMI Washington
National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Program
National Black Nurses Association
National Consumers League
National Grange
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
Radio KDNA 91.9 FM Yakima
Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
Veterans Against Drugs
Veterans Health Council
Vietnam Veterans of America

The above is a press release from RALI Washington. The Auburn Examiner has not independently verified its contents.