A new public service advertisement campaign called “Start With Hope” was launched in USA, aiming to inspire and support people with substance use disorders (SUDs) and connect them with harm reduction and treatment resources.

The campaign is a partnership between the Ad Council, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and Shatterproof, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the addiction crisis.

The campaign features real stories of individuals who have gone through their own recovery journeys, such as Ale, Ariel and Joseph, and showcases the role of hope in their paths to wellbeing.

“Hope is the first step to recovery. Hope is what motivates us to seek help, to stay on track, and to overcome challenges. Hope is what this campaign is all about,” said Gary Mendell, founder and CEO of Shatterproof.

The campaign targets Black and Hispanic/Latinx populations, who have experienced sharp increases in overdose rates and face barriers to accessing substance use treatment services.

According to the CDC, more than 93,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2020, a 29.4% increase from 2019. The overdose death rate among Black Americans increased by 38.4%, while the rate among Hispanic/Latinx Americans increased by 26.8%.

The campaign aims to reduce the stigma and shame associated with SUDs, and to encourage people to seek help from trusted sources, such as their primary care providers, local harm reduction programs, or online platforms like FindTreatment.gov and TreatmentFinder.org.

The campaign also provides information and guidance for family members and friends who want to support their loved ones with SUDs.

The campaign’s website, StartWithHope.org, offers a variety of resources, such as videos, podcasts, articles, and toolkits, to help people with SUDs and their supporters.

The campaign’s ads will run across TV, radio, digital, social media, and out-of-home platforms, reaching millions of Americans nationwide.

The campaign’s message is simple and powerful: “No matter what you’re going through, no matter how hard it seems, there is hope. And hope starts with you.”

Learn more from StartWithHope.org (USA, November 2023) and visit National Council for Mental Wellbeing.