Founder's Note

HarborPath was founded on a simple but powerful belief: to serve unmet needs.

Over the years, we’ve seen countless examples of communities and individuals navigating life without the support they deserve—but recently, one need has become especially urgent. Families and individuals living with epilepsy face challenges that go far beyond their diagnosis. From the high cost of essential medications to gaps in education that could prevent tragedies like Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), too many patients are left navigating a complex and sometimes overwhelming system alone.

These financial, educational, and systemic barriers impact daily living, independence, and peace of mind. Patients and their families need advocates in their corner.

That is why we launched the HarborPath Policy Council.

While HarborPath continues its core mission of providing direct assistance to patients in need, the Policy Council allows us to tackle these challenges on a broader scale, advocating for effective public policy at both the state and federal levels.

The Policy Council focuses on ensuring that patients with chronic conditions, like epilepsy, have access to the treatments, resources, and support systems they depend on. By pairing advocacy with HarborPath’s direct support programs, we can help remove barriers to care and create a healthier future for the people we serve.

We are committed to supporting patients and ensuring their needs are acted upon.

-Ken Trogdon, President of HarborPath

Air National Guardsman Saves Woman from Opioid Overdose in Memphis

Earlier this month near Memphis International Airport, Staff Sgt. Cody Luhrs, serving with the Tennessee Air National Guard and Memphis Safe Task Force, saved the life of a woman experiencing an opioid overdose. While on patrol, Luhrs responded to a call from a truck driver reporting an unresponsive woman inside a semi-truck. Luhrs administered a dose of naloxone, reviving the woman before emergency services arrived.

Luhrs, a former Army infantryman and medic with the 20th Special Forces Group, has served in the National Guard since 2009 and as a civilian firefighter and Advanced EMT since 2013. He credits his training for enabling him to act quickly in a life-or-death situation.

Ken's Take: This story highlights the critical importance of timely access to naloxone, the life-saving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. In overdose emergencies, every second counts, and having the right medication on hand can mean the difference between life and death.

Communities need to ensure that police, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders are fully equipped and trained to respond to overdoses. Expanding access, stocking naloxone in patrol vehicles and medical kits, and providing training are simple but powerful steps that directly save lives.

HarborPath has worked with numerous public safety agencies to distribute naloxone to first responders, and we’ve heard firsthand how important effective and efficient distribution strategies are. This work is made possible through our partnership with FFF Enterprises, which helps ensure our partners have naloxone readily available through direct distribution. FFF’s ODRescue Boxes are placed in high-traffic areas for easy access during an emergency—much like a defibrillator.

This story is a reminder: when first responders have the tools they need, lives will be saved.

Awareness Campaign at the University of Oklahoma

HarborPath is only a few weeks into its new student awareness campaign at the University of Oklahoma, but we’re already seeing incredible traction in getting life-saving messages in front of students.

HarborPath’s unique approach of partnering with student-athlete leaders and leveraging student-focused social media creates powerful peer-to-peer messaging that drives awareness and action to pick up free naloxone from campus health partners.

We’re excited to continue expanding this program with additional OU athletes in the coming months and to bring these critical conversations to more campuses nationwide.

Learn more at HarborPath.org/OU

News You Need to Know About the Fentanyl Crisis

• Norman Transcript: HarborPath partners with OU athletes to combat overdose crisis
• ABC Nashville: New naloxone vending machines set up in Nashville
• ABC Chicago: Cook Co. sees dramatic decrease in fentanyl deaths; advocates warn against false sense of security
• NBC Virginia: Virginia sees 59% drop in fentanyl-related overdose deaths since January 2022

Help us make a difference by providing lifesaving drugs to those in need.

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