Supporting Treatment and Overdose Prevention (STOP)

Opioid addiction is a national public health crisis affecting our communities locally.

Through its Supporting Treatment and Overdose Prevention (STOP) initiative, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation works to end the stigma of addiction and increase equitable access to community-based prevention, treatment, and recovery resources for opioid use disorder.

If you have any questions about our programs, please email us or call 1-855-422-3386.

CRP Best Practices Guide

Higher education institutions can play a critical role in supporting the recovery of young adults and have the potential to directly impact student success, engagement, resiliency, and retention by offering on-campus support through a Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP). Learn how in our CRP Best Practice Guide.

Learn More
STOP logo

Addressing the opioid epidemic

The STOP initiative aims to address the opioid epidemic through evidence based programs and community resources, support of pathways to treatment and prevention, and dissemination of effective strategies and education.

The Foundation's STOP programs include:

  • Leading the expansion of Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) in the southeastern Pennsylvania region
    • Through 2022, the Foundation has committed $1 million to establish and expand recovery supports on college campuses (known as Collegiate Recovery Programs) with the Association of Recovery in Higher Education. Learn more.
  • Researching evidence based and emerging approaches to addressing opioid use disorder (OUD)
    • Prioritizing warm handoff overdose survivor programs in the emergency room setting
    • Evaluating nurse compassion fatigue and burnout from caring for patients with substance use disorder
    • Analyzing the impact of grant funding and technical assistance on Collegiate Recovery Program expansion
  • Awarding charitable grants to support the continuum of care for those impacted by OUD
    • Prevention and education
    • Treatment access
    • Post treatment transition
    • Long term recovery support
    • Provider education
  • Addressing the barrier of stigma associated with OUD through public awareness campaigns
CRP Best Practices Guide

Higher education institutions can play a critical role in supporting the recovery of young adults and have the potential to directly impact student success, engagement, resiliency, and retention by offering on-campus support through a Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP). Learn how in our CRP Best Practice Guide.

Learn More

STOP eligibility criteria

The Foundation is currently prioritizing funding for local colleges and universities to launch and expand Collegiate Recovery Programs to support the recovery of students in higher education.

Eligible organizations can receive funding only once per calendar year and must meet the following criteria:

  • Must be classified as tax-exempt nonprofit under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code
  • Must be an accredited college or university
  • Must be located in and/or serve the five counties in southeastern Pennsylvania: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia
  • Must complete the Collegiate Recovery Readiness Survey
    • To be disseminated and evaluated by the Association for Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE)
  • Must partner with the ARHE for technical assistance
  • Must use funds in accordance with the Foundation's general eligibility guidelines
  • Organizations must satisfy the Independence Blue Cross Foundation's general eligibility guidelines
CRP Best Practices Guide

Higher education institutions can play a critical role in supporting the recovery of young adults and have the potential to directly impact student success, engagement, resiliency, and retention by offering on-campus support through a Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP). Learn how in our CRP Best Practice Guide.

Learn More

Addressing Health Priorities STOP grant recipients

  • Association of Recovery in Higher Education
  • Bryn Mawr College
  • Cabrini University
  • Community College of Philadelphia
  • Eastern University
  • Holy Family University
  • Montgomery County Community College
  • Neumann University
  • St. Joseph's University, Hawk Hill Campus
  • Saint Joseph's University, University City Campus
  • Temple University
  • Thomas Jefferson University
  • Villanova University
CRP Best Practices Guide

Higher education institutions can play a critical role in supporting the recovery of young adults and have the potential to directly impact student success, engagement, resiliency, and retention by offering on-campus support through a Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP). Learn how in our CRP Best Practice Guide.

Learn More

Prescription drug take-back sites

Drug take-back programs are a secure and convenient way to dispose of medication and will help prevent abuse and reduce access. If you have unused or expired prescription drugs in your home, you can visit over 100 locations to safely dispose of these medications. You can be a part of the solution to help prevent prescription drug abuse.

Find a location near you

Bucks County

View Rx Take-back locations in Bucks County.

Chester County

View Rx Take-back locations in Chester County.

Delaware County

View Rx Take-back locations in Delaware County.

Montgomery County

View Rx Take-back locations in Montgomery County.

Philadelphia County

View Rx Take-back locations in Philadelphia County.

Drug Take Back Sites

Emergency Department Warm Handoff Programs

In response to a 2016 state-wide mandate, the 67 counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are required to stand up emergency room-based warm handoff programs, which use the emergency room setting to provide a drug overdose survivor with an immediate referral to treatment. The Independence Blue Cross Foundation initiated a study to understand utilization, design, and effectiveness of these programs in our region. Even among warm handoff hospitals, there is variation in process and success rates. After reviewing practices at five Bucks County hospitals, we've realized the need for:

  1. Increase access to Certified Recovery Specialists
  2. More training for emergency room staff to improve care coordination and reduce stigma
  3. Use of electronic health record systems to make access to treatment more efficient
  4. Promote, through government grants, the conversion and co-location of treatment facilities onsite at hospitals where possible
  5. Empowering Emergency Medical Services personnel in facilitating the treatment process

Additional Resources

For additional resources, visit our Someone You Know site.