Trillium Community Health Plan Partners with Song for Charlie to Address Epidemic of Youth Fentanyl Overdose Deaths
Date: 03/13/24
Trillium invests $1 million to expand parent and caregiver fentanyl education programs in Oregon.
Trillium Community Health Plan (“Trillium”), a Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) dedicated to creating healthier communities, and wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), today announced its partnership with Song for Charlie, a national family-run, nonprofit charity that encourages young people to choose healthy coping strategies over self-medication. Together, Trillium and Song for Charlie will help address Oregon’s epidemic of youth fentanyl overdose deaths through a series of prevention, outreach and engagement efforts.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)1, from 2018 to 2022, nearly 300 Oregonians aged 15 to 24 died from drug overdose and poisoning. During this timeframe, the rate of drug-related deaths in Oregon increased more than sixfold, marking the fastest growth in teen drug deaths compared to any other state. This surge has positioned Oregon as having one of the highest teen drug death rates in the country. Notably, all of Oregon’s teen drug deaths in 2022 were linked to synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl.
To support families and communities in tackling the drug overdose epidemic, Trillium has invested $1 million to adapt Song for Charlie’s prevention materials for Oregonians at no cost. This investment includes “The New Drug Talk,” a program designed to help parents and caregivers educate young people about the risks associated with fentanyl, counterfeit pills, and today’s drug environment, encouraging an open and continuous dialogue.
“Trillium is dedicated to partnering with the state, organizations, communities, schools and families as we collectively mobilize new resources to address the epidemic of drug overdose in Oregon,” said Trillium Plan President and CEO Sarah Kelley Brewer. “Song for Charlie shares our commitment to providing access to education and resources as essential tools to save kids’ lives and transform the health of the communities we serve.”
“At Song for Charlie, we know that many young people are unaware of the risks posed by fake pills,” said Ed Ternan, president and co-founder of Song for Charlie. “We appreciate Trillium’s investment in bringing our program to Oregon families as we work with experts, educators and parents to teach young people about the emerging dangers of self-medication and casual drug use in the fentanyl era. Together we will make significant inroads into ending the youth overdose epidemic.”
The emergence of fentanyl has transformed the drug landscape, necessitating a shift in our approach to discussing drug use with young people. The New Drug Talk is an online platform crafted with insights from experts in youth mental health, addiction science, adolescent medicine, and drug education. It aims to foster meaningful connections within families, ensuring parents and children feel heard and understood. Central to the program are interactive learning scenarios created to engage and educate families, educators, and communities on navigating and combating the fentanyl crisis effectively. For more information about The New Drug Talk, visit the Song for Charlie website.
The Oregon Advisory Council and Content Team for Song for Charlie includes leaders and experts from across the state. The program is slated to launch on May 7, 2024, in conjunction with National Fentanyl Awareness Day.
About Trillium Community Health Plan
Trillium Community Health Plan serves Oregon Health Plan members through the CCO model, which began in 2012. Trillium is a recognized leader for outstanding coordination of care and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a leading healthcare enterprise dedicated to transforming the health of communities, one person at a time. It was first awarded a contract with the state of Oregon to help manage care for the Oregon Health Plan in 1999. Trillium partners with an extensive group of providers to improve care and access to services for OHP members. For more information, please visit the Trillium website.
About Song for Charlie
Song for Charlie is a national family-run nonprofit charity dedicated to raising awareness about ‘fentapills’ — fake pills made of fentanyl. After the sudden loss of their son Charlie, Ed and Mary Ternan created Song for Charlie with one goal: to bring awareness to illicit fentanyl in the drug supply, and specifically in counterfeit prescription pills being sold online targeting young people. Song for Charlie partners with experts, educators, parents and other influencers to reach the most vulnerable group: young people between the ages 13-24, and the people who love them. Its programs highlight the emerging dangers of self-medication and casual drug use in the fentanyl era and encourage healthier strategies for coping with stress. For more information, please visit the Song for Charlie website.
1Derived from: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Mortality 2018-2021 & Provisional Mortality 2022-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database. Final data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files 2018-2021 & from provisional data for years 2022-2023 as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed at CDC Wonder: About Multiple Cause of Death, 2018-2021, Single Race & CDC Wonder: Provisional Mortality Statistics, 2018-Last Week in Feb, 2024. “Drug poisoning (overdose)” deaths reported here exclude suicide (X60-X64).