The SOS Berks Opioid Coalition is Berks County’s local response to the devastating opioid epidemic. With the recognition that the scope of this epidemic required a strong collaborative approach, SOS Berks was born. The Coalition works to facilitate connections between our community and its stakeholders to create initiatives that address the crisis.
As the Coalition moves into its fifth year, the focus of SOS Berks is to expand efforts that contribute to the reduction of drug-related deaths and to overcome barriers to prevention, treatment, and recovery in Berks County. The Coalition is represented by a wide range of stakeholders from all sectors of the community and continues to grow its membership. The strength of SOS Berks is the dedication of its members. As the Coalition enhances and expands these relationships to increase its connection and visibility in our community, a unique opportunity exists to create meaningful, systemic, and sustainable changes capable of addressing all current and future drug threats.
Michael Rivera, Berks County Commissioner, and Kathleen Noll, Council on Chemical Abuse Executive Director, serve as co-chairs of the SOS Berks Opioid Coalition. Commissioner Rivera is clearly aware of the family and community suffering linked to substance use and addiction and has stated his commitment: “In an effort to remediate and prevent this devastation, I support prevention, intervention, and treatment efforts as well as recovery initiatives. I also have a personal connection to issues surrounding substance use and addiction through my father’s recovery. I look forward to growing and diversifying the SOS Berks membership and to furthering our reach into the Black and Latino communities.”
SOS Berks invites all those who are interested to join in the work of the Coalition. Go to SOSBerks.org/contact-us/ to let us know of your willingness to help save lives and improve our community.
SOS Berks Opioid Coalition
