In May 2018, Wilson County community leaders came together to help fight substance misuse. The need was identified when a loving mother approached our county Mayor because her son had died from a Fentanyl overdose while taking pain medication for a physical ailment. Her story was personal. What had started with a back injury at work and prescribed pain medicine ended with street pills laced with a deadly drug. Mayor Randall Hutto gathered a group of caring professionals and community members and delegated the task of working together to find a way to help address the issue of substance misuse. The coalition was established on June 6, 2018. Mayor Hutto and the coalition presented Lisa Bass Tapley with a resolution on National Overdose Awareness Day to honor the memory of her son Thomas, whose tragedy inspired the coalition to form.

Founding Board of Directors (2018)

Tammy Grow, Chairman

Scott Moore, Co-Chairman

Susan Shaw, Facilitator

Mike Ayalon, Secretary/Treasurer

Tim Diffenderfer, Board of Directors Member