Mitch Weintraub, a Burrillville native, graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and has worked in the green industry his entire life.
After the death of his younger brother Jackson in August 2017, Weintraub began speaking out about addiction and mental illness. He was named Rhode Island State Chair of the nonprofit Addiction Policy Forum in July. The APF is a partnership of organizations, policymakers and stakeholders working to elevate awareness about and improve national policy concerning addiction.
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In July, the APF expanded its Addiction Resource Center to cover information about treatment facilities and health care providers in Rhode Island in an effort to curb the local impact of the national opioid epidemic.
PBN: Please tell us about your brother Jackson and his influence on your work with the Addiction Policy Forum.
WEINTRAUB: Jackson was an intelligent, articulate and uniquely funny person. He loved baseball, animals, music and family. We were essentially twins and our lives, for the most part, were very similar, until Jackson was introduced to drugs. Ultimately, Jackson is the reason why I began working with APF. I’m fueled by guilt, anger, regret but most importantly a will to keep my brother’s memory alive, which is likely the motivating factor for many of those at APF.
PBN: How did you become involved with the APF?
WEINTRAUB: A speech I gave at Burrillville High [School] in March 2018 got the attention of Michelle Harter, whose work ethic in battling addiction and stigma in Rhode Island is unmatched – she took me under her wing after seeing my speech. I was able to join Michelle in Washington, D.C., for APF family day, where I met the amazing people behind the organization.
PBN: Rhode Island has worked to curb opioid addiction, abuse and overdose deaths on several fronts, including treatment and prevention through the health department, research and an executive order calling for access to behavioral health care at a cost equitable with primary care. What would you add to the mix?
WEINTRAUB: I would agree that, yes, generally there are many amazing resources out there designed to help those struggling. I would say that some responsibility now lies on the media. It’s up to the local media outlets in Rhode Island to promote these services. Destigmatize the use of these services and shed light on the magnitude of the issue that is too often swept under the rug. I would also say that the free, unbiased database of health care providers and treatment centers that Addiction Policy Forum just launched in Rhode Island to connect those who are concerned about substance use disorder with the help they need is an important new addition to the mix.
PBN: Please describe your work with the APF.
WEINTRAUB: Though my work with APF is still in its infancy, I ultimately want to serve as the conduit between the message of APF and the local community. My goal is to use my story, my struggle and my brother’s memory to add a face to the statistics – to humanize the issue. I’m also currently trying to get the word out about the Addiction Resource Center in Rhode Island, which is the aforementioned database of addiction health care and treatment providers compiled by Addiction Policy Forum to assist residents in Rhode Island in finding help.
I’ve organized an APF information booth at Fenway Park to recognize overdose awareness day on Aug. 29 for a Red Sox game against the Miami Marlins, where I hope we can reach a large, local audience.
I will have a hand in several events and rallies coming up for Overdose Awareness Day, alongside some amazing people from organizations doing equally amazing work in the state.
I’ve also had the good fortune of developing a working relationship with several of the greatest minds in the state and will use their advice and strength wherever I can.
PBN: What misconception about addiction and mental illness would you most like to clear up?
WEINTRAUB: There are several misconceptions about the issue, but I will say this: The two [mental illness and addiction] are not mutually exclusive. They go hand in hand.
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
