Our Story
Established in 2007, as a response to extremely high overdose mortality rates in Wilkes County, NC, Project Lazarus successfully and dramatically decreased Wilkes’ overdose mortality rate by devising and implementing what is now known as the Project Lazarus Model. The Project Lazarus Model is a public health model based on the twin premises that overdose deaths are preventable and that all communities are responsible for their own health.
Project Lazarus is a non-profit organization that provides training and technical assistance to communities and clinicians addressing prescription medication issues. Using experience, data, and compassion we empower communities and individuals to prevent overdoses and opioid poisonings, establish effective substance use / disease of addiction treatment and support, and meet the needs of those living with pain.
We believe that communities and individuals can make a difference in the lives of those suffering from substance use disorders and the disease of addiction. We believe that you can help save lives in your community. Coalitions are our speciality and we can help your community establish an effective group to combat the overdose epidemic or revive an already existing group. For prescribers and clinicians, we offer education on pain management, naloxone, and safe prescribing practices. We also have special programs for law enforcement, military, and tribal populations.
We have a range of services designed to help not only communities, but individuals as well. A Naloxone Rescue Kit is only a click or phone call away. Learn more about Lazarus Recovery Services to see if this program is a good fit for you or a loved one. If you have unused or expired medications, we can help locate a safe disposal dropbox through Project Pill Drop.
Project Lazarus Offers Communities & Individuals Access To:
- Coalition formation, capacity building, & sustainability.
- Safe prescribing practices for providers.
- Opioid overdose education, awareness, & safe medication usage materials.
- Naloxone, the opioid overdose rescue medication.
- Project Pill Drop, a community based medication disposal program.
- Lazarus Recovery Services, a peer guided recovery support program.
- Local & state data on overdose and poisoning rates.
- Local & state funding sources for overdose prevention work.