The PROMISE Initiative
The United States, including the state of Mississippi, is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. Approximately 150 people die every day from an opioid overdose. Therefore, PReventing Opioid Misuse in the SouthEast, the PROMISE Initiative, is fighting the opioid epidemic with a multi-phased approach to prevent prescription opioid misuse in rural Mississippi.
PROMISE Initiative efforts include
- community engagement forums that assess the region’s perceived needs and readiness for education about opioid misuse,
- Extension education, agent-led and peer-to-peer, to expand knowledge about proper opioid use,
- a social marketing campaign to encourage proper opioid use, and
- placement of prescription drug take-back boxes throughout the state.
Information gathered from community members, in person and from statewide surveys, will be used to develop and implement the social marketing campaign to promote proper use and disposal of prescription opioids. The community-based research will also be incorporated into Mississippi State University Extension Service educational materials that encourage proper use and disposal of prescription opioids.
This project was supported by the FY17 USDA NIFA Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2017-46100-27225.
Updates
As of April 26, 2018, nine community engagement forums in three PROMISE counties, Tishomingo County, Itawamba County, and Lee County, are complete. The statewide survey was administered in May 2018. PROMISE Initiative leaders are analyzing the data collected during the community engagement forums and from the statewide survey.
On July 12 and 13, 2018, Robertson attended the second annual Opioid and Heroin Mississippi Drug Summit in Madison. She connected with other organizations to learn more about other steps organizations and individuals are taking to combat the opioid crisis in Mississippi.
Press Room
Staff
Mississippi State University Staff Members
- Dr. David Buys, Project Director
- Dr. Laura Downey, Co-Project Director
- Ann Sansing, Co-Project Director
- Elizabeth G. North, Co-Project Director
- Mary Nelson Robertson, Project Coordinator
University of Mississippi Medical Center Staff Member
- Dr. Daniel Williams, Co-Project Director
Mississippi State Extension Service Agents
- Emily Cox, Tishomingo County
- Beth Youngblood, Lee County
- Romona Edge, Itawamba County
Other Partners
- Rozelia Harris, Office of Rural Health
- Jennifer Pope, Bureau of Narcotics
- Ann Rodio, Department of Mental Health
- Meg Pearson, Department of Mental Health
Other Resources
Stand Up, Mississippi is a statewide initiative to end the opioid crisis and inspire all Mississippians to work together to create a stronger and healthier future. Every person is part of the solution. Each of us can make a difference today by standing up and speaking out.
The primary goals of this comprehensive effort are to improve public perception of people dealing with substance use disorder, strengthen policies for prevention and treatment, and promote statewide partnerships to combat the opioid crisis in Mississippi.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can find a treatment center near you, or call 1 (877) 210 – 8513.
Opioid Town Hall Meetings 2018 The Mississippi Board of Pharmacy in partnership with the Department of Mental Health, The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Jackson Division of the FBI are hosting multiple Opioid Town Hall Rallies throughout Mississippi to bring awareness to communities across our state about opioid abuse and what you can do to help reduce the death and destruction caused by opioid addiction.
Upcoming Town Hall Meetings:
The Mississippi Board of Pharmacy, in partnership with the Department of Mental Health, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Jackson Division of the FBI, are hosting multiple Opioid Town Hall Rallies throughout Mississippi. These gatherings are bringing awareness to communities about opioid abuse and what citizens can do to help reduce the death and destruction caused by opioid addiction.
Governor Bryant's Opioid and Heroin Study Task Force has released its recommendations to help Mississippi curb the number of overdoses and death that the opioid epidemic is causing.
United States Department of Agriculture: Opioid Misuse in Rural America
Publications
News
The Mississippi State University Extension Service is doing what it can to make sure everyone in the state’s agricultural community knows there is help available when the stress of life seems unrelenting.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The teen years have challenged every generation, but resources and concerned adults are available to help today’s young people avoid dangers, including suicide.
Most Mississippians think of drug addiction as an issue other people face in faraway places, but the source of this problem could be as close as the family medicine cabinet.
2019 has been an extraordinarily bad year for agriculture, and the extra mental stress it has placed on producers sends many of them looking for relief, not always in good ways.
Between her job and her home, Tracey Porter has not had a break from dealing with flooding in the last six months.
Porter is the deputy director of the Warren County Emergency Management Agency, and her husband, Rodney, farms in the southern Mississippi Delta. Excessive rain last winter and spring kept 250,000 acres of farmland out of production this year. During the time when he would normally prepare for planting season, Rodney Porter was building sandbag levees to protect flood waters from invading their home. She helped him when she was not on the clock assisting other affected people in her community.
Success Stories
In this "What's New in Extension," Extension agents implement better safety standards, train to deliver Mental Health First Aid, and receive national recognition. Also, new irrigation and specialists join the Extension family.
