About SOS Foundation

The SOS Foundation is an exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; with EIN 88-3739782 some or all of your donation may be tax-deductible. (Please check with your accountant or financial adviser for details)

Vision

To provide leadership and resources – programs, policies, information and data, funding, and personnel – advance mental and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services in order to improve individual, community, and public health.

Mission

To reduce the impact of substance misuse on America's communities.

About Us

In 2023, over 114,000 people died from a polydrug overdose in the U.S. That’s more than 300 young Americans each day—equivalent to one jumbo jet crashing daily. This tragic loss is unacceptable. In 1999, drug-related deaths from poisoning were 16,000. Despite having effective treatments available in the U.S. since 2002, we’ve seen a steady increase in overdose deaths. From 1999 to 2017, deaths rose by 10-15%. Over the last four years, the increase has been 30% primarily from the street fentanyl. Meanwhile, access to care has only grown by 1-2% annually over the past 25 years.

The CDC states, “Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is a preventable disease,” and that autopsy analyses show many of these deaths were unintentional. Unfortunately, a significant number of patients awaiting treatment face incredibly high mortality rates. The CDC also reports that 94% of people with SUD/OUD have no access to proper care.

The problem is not a lack of qualified providers. In 2023, there are 157,000 credentialed providers in the U.S. to treat addiction. Yet only 7,000 are actively doing so. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) has been shown to keep over 2 million people in treatment, safe, and thriving. We must focus on these successes to inspire others to seek MAT.

Despite a 60% reduction in prescription narcotics since 2016, overdose deaths are still primarily caused by heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. While over 500 new regulations aimed at reducing pill mills have been implemented, they’ve done little to curb the opioid crisis. Now, we’re facing an opioid epidemic that demands urgent action.

Our Commitment to Change

We are dedicated to reversing the overdose death rates in North America by:

• Expanding access to providers trained in MAT for OUD/SUD

• Collaborating with policymakers to establish practical, effective regulations for opioid addiction treatment

• Reducing the stigma surrounding addiction and its treatment

• Eliminating limits on the number of patients a qualified provider can treat each month

• Understanding why 95% of providers are reluctant to pursue addiction medicine, and creating a model—like Vermont’s—for comprehensive care

• Removing barriers for the 150,000 credentialed providers who are currently sidelined due to regulation, allowing them to safely and effectively treat patients with OUD

The good news is that as of 2023, there are 157,000 credentialed providers in addiction medicine. If all of them join the active workforce, we can significantly improve access to care for 10-20 million people. Effective addiction treatment can save lives, and we are committed to ensuring the opioid epidemic is a closed chapter in America’s history.