Projects

COMING SOON!

“WHY ARE YOU HERE?”

WORKBOOK

Mohave County sits quietly in the rugged landscape where Arizona, Nevada, and California converge. Behind its stark desert beauty lies a community grappling with profound and entrenched challenges. Dubbed the “Heroin Capital” of Arizona, this region embodies the struggles faced by rural America: severe health disparities, rampant substance abuse, and a scarcity of essential resources.

This workbook is designed to empower you—a concerned and engaged community resident, leader, or advocate—to take action. Whether you are a resident, a healthcare provider, a policymaker, or someone personally affected by substance use disorders, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to engage with local, state, and federal leaders and drive meaningful change.

Substance use disorders, particularly opioid addiction, have devastated families, strained healthcare systems, and overwhelmed law enforcement. In Mohave County and similar rural communities, the crisis is magnified by limited access to treatment, economic hardship, and multi-generational substance dependence. The lack of specialized local treatment programs has left countless individuals and families trapped in a cycle of addiction, poverty, and trauma. But change is possible. Community engagement is one of the most powerful tools we have.

This workbook is not just about understanding the opioid epidemic—it’s about action. It provides step-by-step guidance on how to:

✔ Understand the crisis—the scope of substance use disorders and their impact on individuals and communities.

✔ Identify key stakeholders—who in your community has the power to create change.

✔ Engage with policymakers—effective ways to communicate with local, state, and federal leaders.

✔ Develop community initiatives—strategies to improve local resources and support services.

✔ Advocate for policy change—how to push for reforms that increase access to treatment and prevention programs.

✔ Build resilience—how communities can support recovery and long-term well-being.

How to Use Workbook

This workbook is structured to be interactive and action-oriented. Each section includes:

✅ Educational Content – Background information on key topics.

✅ Reflection Questions – Prompts to help you connect the material to your own experiences.

✅ Action Steps – Practical steps you can take to engage with your community.

✅ Case Studies & Examples – Real-world applications of successful community engagement.

✅ Resources & Templates – Tools to help you draft letters, petitions, and action plans.

Whether you are just starting your journey or have been advocating for change for years, this workbook will provide concrete steps to make a difference. The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis, but it is also a human crisis—one that requires compassion, persistence, and a collective effort. updated.