The other day friend Lesli Messinger and I were, how you say, checking in on one another. We both have our physical ailments with hers being Multiple Sclerosis. She’s homebound now as her white blood cell count is down and can’t be in public for a while.

But that hasn’t stopped her as she said to me, “Thank you. I’m dealing with my MS, but I’m still saving lives!” after I gave her well wishes. Yes, Lesli is a fighter in more ways than one.

In 2005 her son, Austin Barthen, died from an overdose of OxyContin. He was 24 years old. And for the first time in our decade plus friendship she boasted “I helped get the 9-1-1 Good Samaritan Law/Naloxone Access bill passed into Georgia law. I was in Gov Deal’s office 4-24-2014 when he signed the bill into law.”

She has since created ‘No More ODs, Inc” which is a nonprofit Harm Reduction Organization based in Savannah, GA. And has 501(c) status.

Lesli says of her organization, “We provide Narcan to restaurants, private schools, businesses, parents, anyone that may see an opiate overdose. We teach the signs of an opiate overdose and how to use Narcan to reverse the overdose and save a life.”

“Our goal is to keep those with Opiate Use Disorder OUD safe, healthy and alive,” She adds.

No More ODs, Inc, also, provides free fentanyl testing strips, xylazine testing strips, Narcan/Naloxone kits, Julie morning after pills, condoms. Plus, safe Injection kits that include, syringes with needles, disposable cookers, filters, alcohol swabs, band aids, sterile water, tourniquets, vitamin C acidifier packets, sharps containers, 10 mg Micro Scoops.

“We give pamphlets on resources,” Lesli continues, on “Community Health Care Services, Local primary care options, Georgia Council on Substance Abuse CARES WARM LINE, Information on Gateway Open Access and HopeDealersWorldWide.org (free health insurance).”

With the holiday season upon us, Lesli’s hoping to not only raise awareness on the stigma of the word addict but to raise funds as well.

Donations can be made through her website No More ODs, Inc or you can make a Zelle donation, like I did, by adding her number 609-744-4144 in the payment section when prompted.

Please do make a donation if you can. We all know an addict, do it in their honor or memory. Don’t let another life go to without a meaning.

You can find my sites on Linktree.  And if you enjoy my writings, please consider hitting that cup of coffee and making a donation. Thank you!