The Opioid Spoon Project

08/11/2025

Shout out to Nathan Kesti making a difference to those on the streets. Thank you for all you do!

Nathan Kesti walks up to 12 miles a day around downtown Duluth, offering “compassionate accountability” to people who don’t have a home, and who are often struggling with addiction and mental health issues.

05/12/2025

Think the opioid crisis is under control? Think again. A recent study suggests that illicit opioid use is vastly underreported—up to 20 times higher than federal estimates.

Some key takeaways: more than 1 in 10 adults (around 11%) reported using illicit opioids in the past 12 months, far surpassing previous estimates. Worse, nearly 8% said they’d used illicitly obtained fentanyl—a highly dangerous opioid tied to increased overdose risk.

This means it’s up to us to fight harder against this crisis. Stay educated, spread awareness, and read the link in our bio for more information.

05/01/2025

🎤 Join us for Day 3 of the Opioid Industry Documents Archive: National Symposium 2025!

We’re proud to share that our founder, Domenic Esposito, will be speaking on a powerful panel exploring how the OIDA collection helps us reflect on the past, understand the present, and reimagine the future of the opioid crisis.

📅 Thursday, May 8
🕛 12–2:30 PM ET / 9–11:30 AM PT

This panel also features David Herzberg (University at Buffalo) and Alexis Pleus (Truth Pharm) — it’s a conversation you won’t want to miss.

💻 Free registration is required — visit the link in our bio to register.
You can attend the full 3-day event or sign up just for Day 3!

Let’s continue pushing for accountability, awareness, and change. 💊🛑
—
The OIDA National Symposium has been made possible in part with support from the UCSF–JHU Opioid Industry Documents Archive.

04/26/2025

collection sites are NOW OPEN nationwide! Help keep your community safe by cleaning out your medicine cabinet and taking back unneeded meds for safe disposal! Find a collection site near you. www.DEATakeBack.com

Sharing this post using can make a huge difference in creating a safer world for us all!

04/23/2025

Shoutout to our incredible board member Ellen Maak for stepping up once again to spread the word about DEA Drug Take Back Day, happening this Saturday, April 26.

Ellen helped raise awareness about what Drug Take Back Day is, why it matters, and how we can all take part in preventing prescription drug misuse. Thank you, Ellen!

To learn more or find a drop-off location near you, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.

💊

04/14/2025

The Opioid Spoon is more than a sculpture — it’s a wake-up call. A bold reminder that behind every statistic is a life, a story, a loved one. It stands in solidarity with those who are struggling, honors those we’ve lost, and calls out the unchecked greed of Big Pharma. You are not alone. 💜

04/08/2025

is a free event for communities nationwide to properly dispose of old and unneeded medications safely and anonymously.

On Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 10 AM to 2 PM, bring old and unneeded medications to a collection site near you. This is a crucial step in preventing drug misuse and opioid addiction, helping protect our communities from harm.

Find a drop-off location near you at www.DEATakeBack.com. Let’s make our neighborhoods safer, together!

04/04/2025

🚨 What to do if someone overdoses:

1️⃣ Call 911 immediately. Time is critical—don’t wait.
2️⃣ Administer Narcan (Naloxone). Narcan can reverse opioid overdoses in minutes. Follow steps to administer Narcan.
3️⃣ Stay with the person. Even if they wake up, they may need further medical attention.
4️⃣ Continue rescue breathing or CPR if necessary until help arrives.

🔗 Where to get Narcan:

🟣 Contact your city or town's health department for information on Narcan distribution programs in your area.

🟣 Available without a prescription at many pharmacies. Visit your local pharmacies or call to inquire.

🟣 Some states and organizations offer free Narcan kits—check local resources or your healthcare provider.

💡 Narcan is safe, non-addictive, and can reverse opioid overdoses in minutes. It’s a life-saving tool we all need to know about.

Together, we can save lives. Stay informed.

04/02/2025

📣 ⚠️ Staying informed on the dangers of fentanyl is crucial. It’s deadly even in tiny amounts and is driving the opioid crisis, claiming thousands of lives each year.

💡 Together, we can stay informed and spread awareness to fight this crisis.

03/19/2025

Yesterday’s tabling at Hopewell Valley Central High School was a huge success! A big thank you to Ellen for leading powerful discussions on substance use disorder and for championing the Opioid Spoon Project. Together, we’re making a real difference! 💜

03/18/2025

📣 Today our board member Ellen Maak will be at Teen Wellness Day at Hopewell Valley Central High School, NJ! 💜 She’ll be there to connect with 9th and 11th graders—opening up conversations about substance use disorder (SUD), breaking the stigma, and the power of speaking openly and honestly.

Ellen shares her goals for this event are:

"My goal is to educate the teens about this crisis in a way that doesn’t judge or demean. I work to decrease stigma and make conversations about SUD and frankly mental health too, as normal as talking about weight and exercise. Educate to what’s out there, the dangers and the tools to keep them safe if they are going to use. Really opening the conversation with them and being someone who doesn't judge. Listening to them then leads to them trusting you to open up to you."

We hope this event sparks meaningful conversations about substance use disorder among teens and helps our younger generation better understand and navigate this crisis. Thank you, Ellen, for being a part of this important work! 💜

03/12/2025

📢 Hopewell Valley Event! 📢
On March 18th (8 AM – 12 PM), our board member Ellen Maak will be at Teen Wellness Day at Hopewell Valley Central High School, NJ! 💜

She’ll be tabling and talking with 9th & 11th graders about substance use disorder (SUD), breaking the stigma, and why open, honest conversations matter.

🗣️ Why does Ellen work with OSP?

“When I saw Domenic’s spoon for the first time, it grabbed me and didn’t let go. Then I saw his other pieces—they spoke to me. Each one says something to my heart. I’ve used pictures of his work and they speak to so many.

People approach, ask questions, and talk about what it made them feel. It starts conversation where no person is wrong—a dialogue. Sharing experiences, opening minds, and feeling normal talking about it.

With young people, it sparks a curiosity that draws them in to discuss, to listen, and to explore more.”

Thank you, Ellen, for the incredible work you do. 💜