October 2019: Fox 8 Cleveland – Local man who lost son in opioid epidemic says settlement is not enough
CLEVELAND– A Northeast Ohio father who lost his youngest son to the opioid epidemic said he believes Monday’s multi-million dollar settlement is not enough. He said he believes the drug companies involved are not taking full responsibility for the pain that his family and others have endured.
Greg McNeil, of Hudson, was in the courtroom when Cuyahoga and Summit counties reached a settlement with the nation’s three largest drug distributors and a major drug maker. He said $260 million is not enough to cover the damage that he feels the opioid epidemic has caused. He wants to hear an admission of guilt and an apology.
“If they would have taken responsibility for misleading the public and causing the epidemic, then I think we would have had some opportunity, a little bit of closure for families throughout America that have lost loved ones, but sadly that hasn’t happened,” McNeil said. Read The Full Story Here >>
September 2019: WLWT5, Rep. Brad Wenstrup discusses non-opioid pain treatment options with doctors, activists
On Thursday, Snyder and other medical experts joined forces with ordinary citizens who are fighting on the front lines of Greater Cincinnati’s opioid crisis.
Both sides gathered at Good Samaritan Hospital to support new ways of treating pain without narcotics. They have a powerful ally in U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio.
“We were being driven, you know, sometimes by federal requirements (to) take care of pain, make sure the pain goes away,” Wenstrup said. “That isn’t the best answer all the time.” Read the Full Story Here >>
September 2019: USA Today, (OP-ED) The opioid crisis: The right way to spend billions in settlement money
When the Food and Drug Administration approved OxyContin in 1995, it lit a match that set off an inferno. By allowing Purdue Pharma’s addictive painkiller to be prescribed for a broad range of ailments, the FDA unwittingly instigated one of the worst public health crises our country has known.
Now, nearly a quarter of a century into the opioid epidemic, it’s clear the pharmaceutical industry duped the government into believing opioids were safe to freely prescribe for almost any ailment. By the time we realized we were in a health crisis, thousands of people had already lost their lives. Countless communities had been financially and emotionally devastated just trying to keep pace with the tsunami of overdoses.
August 2019: WLWT 5, Rep. Brad Wenstrup discusses non-opioid pain treatment options with doctors, activists
The consequences of drug abuse are never far from the mind of orthopedic surgeon Mark Snyder.
“(That’s) because it’s the leading cause of accidental death in America,” Snyder said.
On Thursday (8/29/2019), Snyder and other medical experts joined forces with ordinary citizens who are fighting on the front lines of Greater Cincinnati’s opioid crisis.
Both sides gathered at Good Samaritan Hospital to support new ways of treating pain without narcotics. They have a powerful ally in U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio.
August 2019: Akron.com, NARCAN Emergency Kits Installed at CAK
The Akron-Canton Airport partnered with the Green Drug Task Force to install seven emergency NARCAN kits that reverse the effects of an opioid overdose throughout the terminal this summer. The NaloxBox units, similar to AED or first-aid kits located in public places, will be installed alongside CAK’s existing Automated External Defibrillator (AED) units, according to city officials.
Officials said three units at the airport will be supplied by RIDMAT/MRC and RI Responds, the manufacturer of Naloxbox, while the other four units will be purchased by Akron-Canton Airport. Each kit costs approximately $250.
August 2019: Channel 19 Cleveland, Akron-Canton Airport Installs Life Saving Opioid Overdose Units In Terminal
The Akron-Canton Airport has installed NaloBox units inside the terminal that contain Narcan nasal spray. The spray can reverse the effects of opioid overdose.
“We are aware of the growing epidemic and feel responsible as a public facility to be equipped to handle such an incident,” said Ren Camacho President and CEO of Akron-Canton Airport.
First responders have just six minutes to arrive and begin administering the life-saving drug Narcan in an overdose situation according to Greg McNeil, Founder and President of Cover2.org.
“Having Narcan readily available in public spaces can save lives by bridging the gap while waiting for first responders to arrive,” McNeil said.
August 2019: Akron Beacon Journal, Akron-Canton Airport to Install Naloxone Kits
The Akron-Canton Airport is installing seven live-saving naloxone kits, Beacon Journal news partner News 5 Cleveland reports.
“Minutes can matter when it comes to saving a life and we want to be able to provide that opportunity,” airport President and CEO Ren Camacho told the television station. “The ability to save one life, it’s well worth the investment.”
August 2019: Aviation Pros, Akron-Canton Airport In-Terminal Emergency Tools Expanded to Include Narcan
Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) has installed NaloxBox units within its terminal, containing Narcan nasal spray, which can reverse the effects of opioid overdose.
The effort to save lives is a collaboration between CAK, the City of Green, Cover2 Resources, the Summit County Health Department and Project DAWN.
August 2019: Fox 8 Cleveland, Growing Epidemic: Narcan Installed at Akron Canton Airport
NORTH CANTON, Ohio – The Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) has installed NaloxBox units in its terminal that contain Narcan nasal spray, which can reverse the effects of opioid overdose.
It’s part of a collaboration between CAK, the City of Green, Cover2 Resources, the Summit County Health Department and Project DAWN.
August 2019: USA Today, A Hole in Our Hearts – Losing a Loved One to the Opioid Crisis
Bill Sternberg, USA TODAY Editorial Page editor, hopes that talking about his son’s death can help others and shed light on a flawed system. USA TODAY
July 2019: WKYC Channel 3 – Cleveland – Health Headlines: City of Green fights Opioid Epidemic
Cover 2 Resouces and the Community of First Responders Initiative were featured on WKYC Channel 3 Cleveland.
July 2019: News 5 Cleveland – App Helps Connect Naloxone Carriers With People Overdosing
GREEN, Ohio — Central Park in Green was the venue for a country music concert Thursday night, but it was also a venue in which to raise awareness about the opioid crisis.
Among those attending the event was Greg McNeil of Hudson, Ohio. McNeil, the event organizer, lost his son to a heroin overdose in October 2015.
July 2019: News 5 Cleveland – Akron Canton Airport Installing Seven Narcan Kits
The units will be mounted in both public and secure areas next to existing automated external defibrillators (AED’s).
GREEN, Ohio — Seven kits containing the overdose-reversing drug Naloxone will soon be installed at Akron Canton Airport.
Each kit, called Naloxbox, contain two doses of Narcan as well as a face mask for rescue breathing.
July 2019: Cleveland.com – Summit County concert promotes free app to connect naloxone carriers to people overdosing
GREEN, Ohio — A free country music concert in Green on Thursday will promote the launch of a community-wide network that will connect naloxone carriers with people who are overdosing.
The “Community of First Responders” launch party, featuring food trucks and CMA Award-winning country artist Shane Runion, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Central Park, 1795 Steese Road.
July 2019: 1590 WAKR – Greg McNeil & Shane Runion: Community of First Responders Event
Greg McNeil and CMA artist Shane Runion jump on 1590 WAKR to talk about the Community of First Responders Initiative and the Launch Party concert.
This event is an evening of family-friendly fun, music, and food, celebrating a community uniting together to save lives.
Listen to the full interview >>
June 2019: Akron Beacon Journal – Hudson Father Devotes Life to Fighting Opioid Epidemic After Son Dies From Overdose
Greg McNeil got the heartbreaking phone call on Oct. 23, 2015. His 28-year-old son, Sam, who had struggled for years with heroin but seemed to have turned the corner, was found dead sitting in his favorite chair at his home in Boca Raton, Florida. It was a drug overdose.
June 2019: NPR, All Things Considered – How One Father Became a Leading Activist in the Fight Against Opioids
When Greg McNeil’s son Sam died of a heroin overdose in 2015, after first becoming addicted to prescription pain pills, the father reinvented himself as an opioid activist.
Listen to the full interview >>
June 2019: The Fix – Community of Responders Campaign Aims To End Overdose Deaths
A new campaign growing out of Green, Ohio aims to turn community members into lifesaving first responders who are ready to act in case of an opioid overdose. Combining the efforts of Cover2 Resources, NaloxBox, NaloxoFind, Project DAWN and ODMAP, the Community of First Responders (CFR) is the first of its kind in the U.S.
May 2019: Spectrum News 1 – A Father’s Journey Turns Grief Into Advocacy
Twinsburg, OH – Greg McNeil calls himself a “hack” when it comes to podcasting, and didn’t see it in his future.
- His son died of a heroin overdose
- His podcasts and community activism help others
- He’s working in Green to create programs and resources for those struggling with addictions and overdoses
“I’ve never done a podcast before this in my life,” said Greg McNeil of Cover2 Resources. “But, for whatever reason, it occurred to us it would be a good thing.”
May 2019: ideastream – City of Green To Install NARCAN Kits In Hotels
The city of Green in Summit County will equip hotels with Narcan, the naloxone nasal spray drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, in a program believed the be the first of its kind in the United States.
May 2019: wksu|89.7 – City of Green To Install NARCAN Kits In Hotels
A new initiative in Green aims to prevent overdose deaths. The city was in the national spotlight in 2016 when a teenager overdosed in a hotel in Green.
May 2019: Cover2 Resources Interviewed on 1590 WAKR
1590 WAKR interviews Cover 2 Resources’ Greg McNeil on the Jasen Sokol Show, covering the installation of the new wall-mounted opioid rescue kits in Green Ohio. Greg shares his insights into the opioid epidemic’s impact on the city of green, and the Community of First Responders efforts to save lives through Narcan administration training and the implementation of public use Naloxone.
May 23rd, 2019: Cover2 Resources Gets Narcan Kits Mounted in Green Ohio Hotels
In an interview with Cover 2 Resources’ Greg McNeil, News 5 Cleveland covers the installation of new wall-mounted opioid rescue kits in hotels around Green Ohio. As part of the efforts made by the Community of First Responders to take action against the opioid epidemic in Ohio, the city of Green is positioning these NaloxBox kits in areas with high occurrences of opioid overdoses, as well as training hotel staff in Narcan administration. Therefore, first responders can revive an unconscious victim while waiting for medical help to arrive, saving lives.