This Must Be The Place: A Non-Profit Making a Difference

BE THE PLACE. 

Who are they? What do they do? Why are they important?

There is a dark truth behind music festivals: the opioid overdose that can be found in the party scene of music festivals. 

“No one pays attention to that fire extinguisher on the wall, until something is burning; Naloxone is no different.” 

This Must Be the Place is a non-profit organization that aims to treat substance use and behavioral disorders here in the United States. Based in Columbus, Ohio, The organization was founded by Ingela Travers-Hayward and William Perry. Two people with two very different backgrounds. They have come together to educate and provide for the people. 

This past summer, they were able to travel around the country to music festivals, handing out over 10,000 doses of Naloxone. The company provides a shared space and the necessary tools to festival goers to inspire, transform, and heal. 

Naloxone? Naloxone, or Narcan, is a life-saving prescription medication that is used as treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose. An emergency nasal spray is given to a person when emergency medical care is not immediately available. You can learn more about NARCAN and its benefits here!

Their mission: To listen. 

Addiction is something often misunderstood and has a stigma around when talking about. Be The Place also has programs tailored to the needs of communities, not assuming what the people need, but listening and supporting. 

The initiative LISTEN UP was created as a result of accidental fentanyl poisoning becoming the number one cause of death in Americans aged 18-45. Some music festival attendees decide to partake in the use of recreational drugs, meaning that having Naloxone readily available and being educated on its use could save a life. 

In order to get Narcan into the possession of as many people as possible, Be The Place relies on donations. You can donate through DonorBox, Venmo, PayPal, or through their website. As a non-profit, they are doing their best to keep festivals and our community as safe as possible. If you are interested, they do ship free Naloxone country-wide in a discreet package and a single dose. You may not participate at festivals; however, you do not know who around you might be able to save.