Welcome to the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast, episode 20, 'Spread Awareness, Save Lives' with Carla Scarabino & Carley Dietrick.
In this episode I am joined by my guests Carla Scarabino, Chief Development Officer and Carley Dietrick, Addiction Navigator and Student Alliance Coordinator from Tigger House Foundation.
Tigger House Foundation was inspired by the devastating suffering and profound love of the Stavola family who lost their son and brother “Tigger” at 25 years of age to an accidental overdose.
The foundation's mission is to save lives against the dangers of opiate addiction through community-fueled awareness, and widespread informative education against substance abuse. Their vision is about preventing future generations from the dangers of opiate addiction through promoting advocacy & awareness, the inspiring process behind addiction recovery, and energizing education around the world.
This is a very important topic that many may shy away from, but we cannot continue to bury our heads as too many people are suffering, and many in silence. Addiction does not hit one specific demographic. It can affect anyone.
Tigger House helps to take the burden off of those who do not know where to turn both for the addict and the family. One of the resources you can find on their website is something called Conversation on Addiction. These are interviews with experts from the community. You can also hear stories from those who are in recovery.
Carla shares some astounding statistics regarding the national and local deaths due to addiction from May 2019 to May 2020. The numbers are devastating as each one represents a life lost.
Ongoing education, awareness, and open conversation are what needs to take place in our communities. Tigger House Foundation has formed a student alliance that is providing all of those things to kids in 13 high schools locally in Monmouth County, NJ. Carley talks in more detail about this important program.
Tigger House Foundation becomes a part of each persons ongoing journey. Carly has received such hopeful and touching text messages from those who have gone through treatment. Hope is out there for those who need and want to hold onto it.
Please go to Tigger House Foundation for more information. Follow Tigger House Foundation | Facebook and on Instagram Tigger House Foundation (@tiggerhousefoundation). You can email help@tiggerhouse.org for immediate support.
Thank you to Carla and Carley for providing this very important information to our listeners. We thank you for all the wonderful work you are doing through Tigger House Foundation.
On the next episode of Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast, I welcome my guest Dawn Doherty, Executive Director, Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. The numbers for teen suicides during the pandemic are on the rise. This is another very important conversation! The only way we can truly make the necessary changes and help those in need is by communities coming together with a better understanding of the roles we all play in supporting one another.