NOPE of Hillsborough

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NOPE of Hillsborough

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Narcotics Overdose Prevention Education
Our mission is to prevent drug use, abuse, and overdose through educating children, families, and community.

10/14/2026

A prescription medication may be safe when taken as directed by a healthcare professional, but that doesn't mean it's safe for someone else.

According to the 2024 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, 35.4% of Hillsborough County high school students did not consider taking prescription drugs without a doctor's orders to be a “great risk” of harm.

That statistic highlights an important opportunity for prevention education. Prescription medications can carry serious risks when misused, including dangerous interactions, dependency, and overdose. Taking medication that was prescribed to someone else can be especially dangerous because dosage, medical history, and other medications all play a role in how a drug affects the body.

It also reminds us why conversations about prescription drug safety need to start early. Young people should understand that medications aren't automatically safe simply because they come from a pharmacy or were prescribed by a doctor.

We work to bring these conversations directly into local schools, helping students better understand the risks of substance misuse and make informed decisions about their health and safety.

The message is simple: Never share prescription medications, and only take medication prescribed to you and dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.

Source: 2024 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, Hillsborough County, Table 6.

10/09/2026

Saturday, October 10

Join our Journey to Healing Hearts support group. We meet every second Saturday of the month at 10am. We are a support group for those who have lost a loved one to any drug or alcohol related incident.
No one should walk alone in their grief journey. Together we heal.
The meeting location has changed to Root Awakening Farm in Tampa. The address is 110 E Hanlon Street, Tampa FL 33604
If you have not been to or heard of Root Awakening Farm, you are in for a treat. It is located right in the heart of Sulphur Springs – on the river – across from the water tower. It is a beautiful and tranquil setting. The farm creates a healing environment for individuals in recovery through integrated wellness, sustainable farming, and community support

10/08/2026

The idea of an “addictive personality” gets thrown around a lot, often as if some people are simply wired for addiction.

The research tells a much more complicated story.
There is no single personality type or officially recognized diagnosis that can reliably predict who will develop an addiction. Certain traits, including impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and difficulty regulating emotions, may be associated with greater risk, but having those traits does not mean someone will develop a substance use disorder.

Addiction is influenced by a combination of factors. Biology can play a role, but so can mental health, stress, environment, access, and a person’s individual circumstances. No single factor tells the whole story.

That distinction is important for prevention. When we reduce addiction to a certain “type” of person, we risk overlooking the many different circumstances that can increase vulnerability and the opportunities to intervene before substance use becomes a larger problem.

Better prevention starts with better understanding, honest conversations, and education grounded in what we actually know.

Sources: Cleveland Clinic and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

10/06/2026

Today, the NOPE Hillsborough team had the privilege of speaking to the Junior class at Robinson High School. We are incredibly grateful for the powerful, emotional stories shared by our family speakers, whose courage in speaking about their sons’ lives and deaths created a profound connection with the students.

Showneen Hall shared the heartbreaking reality of losing her son, Walter, detailing the day she received his belongings—just his phone and a few pieces of jewelry in an evidence bag.

Kathy Fooshee spoke about her son, Nick, and his long journey with addiction, which began with struggles in school and ma*****na use in middle school. After finding sobriety during a period of incarceration, Nick was the person his family loved being around again—until a tragic relapse. His autopsy revealed the presence of he**in laced with fentanyl, a lethal combination he likely didn't know he was taking.

The impact of these stories was clear as students waited after the presentation just to offer our speakers a hug.

We were also joined by TPD Officer Runkles, who shared a powerful story about a young person whose life was saved because their friends made the right choice to call 911. He emphasized the importance of the 911 Good Samaritan law, which protects those seeking help from legal repercussions during an overdose emergency.

A huge thank you to our moderator, Cathy Valdes, and our dedicated setup crew: Lt. Zack Mason, Mike Fooshee, HCPS Bobby, and the cadets from the Robinson High ROTC.

10/02/2026

It was an honor to be back in front of the sophomores at Riverview High School today for our NOPE Hillsborough presentation.

This was a deeply moving session, centered on the powerful stories of families who have lost their children to addiction and overdose. We are incredibly grateful to our family speakers for their courage in sharing such painful, personal experiences in hopes of saving lives.

A special thank you to Showneen Hall, who opened the program by sharing her son Walter’s story for the very first time. Her presentation was incredibly impactful, and several students shared how much they identified with Walter’s story. Kathy Fooshee closed the day by sharing the heartbreaking cycle of her son Nick’s addiction, recovery, and loss, shared in such a poignant way!

We also want to thank:
* Deputy Hicks, for sharing his own personal story, as well as the story of Aaron Fulbruck, and his mother’s 911 call.
* Cathy Valdes, for moderating and highlighting the stories of other local youth lost to addiction.
* Lt. Zack Mason (National Guard), Mike Fooshee, and HCPS employees Gary Napier and Bobby Jones, who worked hard to set up our stage and equipment. A huge shout-out to Bobby for coming in on his day off to volunteer with our team!

It takes a village to make these presentations happen, but it is worth every bit of effort if it saves even one life.

09/29/2026

Tomorrow is the final day to support NOPE Hillsborough through the 29th Annual Community Harvest.

There’s still time to make one more meal count. Dine at a participating 1905 Family of Restaurants location on September 30, select NOPE Hillsborough on the ballot with your check, and 5% of your purchase will be donated at no additional cost to you.

Every selection helps support the prevention education NOPE brings to students and families across Hillsborough County, giving us more opportunities to reach young people with information that can make a difference.

If you’ve been meaning to participate, tomorrow is your last chance.

Make the reservation, grab lunch, or stop in for dinner and choose NOPE Hillsborough.

09/28/2026

Two days left to make your meal count for more!

The 29th Annual Community Harvest wraps up September 30, which means there are just two more days to support NOPE Hillsborough while dining at a participating 1905 Family of Restaurants location.

Choose NOPE Hillsborough on the ballot with your check, and 5% of your purchase will be donated at no additional cost to you. That support helps us continue bringing overdose prevention education to students and families throughout Hillsborough County.

If you’ve been meaning to participate, now is the time. Make plans at Columbia Restaurant, Columbia Café at the Tampa Bay History Center or Tampa International Airport, Ulele, or Casa Santo Stefano.

Two days left. One simple choice that can help us reach more students and families.

09/25/2026

Heading into the weekend, there’s still time to turn your next meal out into support for NOPE Hillsborough.

Through September 30, the 29th Annual Community Harvest gives diners at five participating 1905 Family of Restaurants locations a simple way to help fund prevention education in our community. Select NOPE Hillsborough on the ballot with your check, and 5% of your purchase will be donated at no additional cost to you.

Those dollars help us continue reaching local students and families with education and conversations focused on substance use, overdose prevention, and making informed choices.

If dinner plans are on the calendar this weekend, visit Columbia Restaurant, Columbia Café at the Tampa Bay History Center or Tampa International Airport, Ulele, or Casa Santo Stefano and make your meal count.

Dine out. Choose NOPE. Help us keep prevention education moving forward.

09/22/2026

Five locations. One easy way to support NOPE Hillsborough this September.

Whether you’re grabbing a meal before a flight, spending the afternoon along the Riverwalk, heading to Tampa Heights, or making dinner plans in Ybor City, there’s a participating Community Harvest location nearby.

Through September 30, visit Columbia Café at Tampa International Airport, Ulele, Columbia Café at the Tampa Bay History Center, Columbia Restaurant, or Casa Santo Stefano and select NOPE Hillsborough on the ballot that comes with your check.

Five percent of your purchase will be donated to NOPE at no additional cost to you, helping us continue prevention education for students and families across Hillsborough County.

Pick your spot and choose NOPE Hillsborough!

Address

PO Box 271269
Tampa, FL
33688

Website

http://www.nopehillsborough.org/

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