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.

Someone You Know® is Overcoming Opioid Addiction

Opioid addiction affects each one of us. Through Someone You Know, we're working to inspire hope and recovery.

Meet Malik
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:

  • Addressing the barrier of stigma associated with opioid use disorder (OUD) through public awareness campaigns
  • Researching evidence based and emerging approaches to addressing 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
  • 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
  • Leading the expansion of Collegiate Recovery Programs in the southeastern Pennsylvania region
Someone You Know® is Overcoming Opioid Addiction

Opioid addiction affects each one of us. Through Someone You Know, we're working to inspire hope and recovery.

Meet Malik

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
  • Returning organizations must provide documentation of matching grant funds equivalent to IBC funding request in the form of a signed letter from the funding entity
    • Match grants must be new funds allocated specifically for Collegiate Recovery Programming
    • Match grants may not be previously accrued revenue or unallocated general operating expenses
  • Organizations must satisfy the Independence Blue Cross Foundation's general eligibility guidelines
Someone You Know® is Overcoming Opioid Addiction

Opioid addiction affects each one of us. Through Someone You Know, we're working to inspire hope and recovery.

Meet Malik

Addressing Health Priorities STOP 2022 grant recipients

  • Cabrini University
  • Community College of Philadelphia
  • Montgomery County Community College
  • Saint Joseph's University
  • Temple University
  • Thomas Jefferson University
  • University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Someone You Know® is Overcoming Opioid Addiction

Opioid addiction affects each one of us. Through Someone You Know, we're working to inspire hope and recovery.

Meet Malik

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.