Save the Michaels of the World, Inc. was established in June of 2011 as a small kitchen roundtable action group, to bring attention and awareness of the devastating effects of opioid medications after the death by suicide of 20 year old Michael David Israel.
Avi and Julie Israel decided they didn’t want to see other families suffer the loss of a loved one. The journey started with an interview with a Buffalo News reporter who told Michael’s story. That story got more attention from TV stations. Doctors, patients, parents and the population as a whole are not aware of the danger of opiate addiction. We wanted to find a way to address the overprescribing of pain medications such as hydrocodone and others.
Family Recovery Coach
Save the Michaels of the World, Buffalo
Barbara Howard, also known as Babs, started volunteering in the Recovery Community over 15 yrs.ago. She has several family members affected by Substance Use Disorder. She started volunteering with Save the Michaels 10 years ago to support families who have loved ones with SUD and became certified as a Recovery Coach. After retiring from a 40 year career in healthcare she took a part time position at Save the Michaels as a Family Recovery Coach. This past March, Babs celebrated 5 years in this position. She facilitates the Topic Discussion Support Group meetings held the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month, as well as Family Support Groups @ Renaissance Rehab. She started the Distinguished Speaker Series which is held quarterly and most recently started a Book Club held once a month @ Save the Michaels. Babs is grateful to be part of the recovery community and is passionate about providing support, education and resources to families affected by addiction.
‘Narcan — it gives people a second chance’: New Narcan vending machine to save lives
https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/northtowns/narcan-it-gives-people-a-second-chance-new-narcan-vending-machine-to-save-lives
There is a new way of fighting the drug overdose epidemic to save lives. A Narcan vending machine is now installed outside the Kenmore Fire Department.
“I reached out to Save the Michaels over 2 years ago and was looking for help with my husband, who is an alcoholic and at the time, he did not want to get any help. I came to understand that I needed help too. I have come a long way. I have a new perspective on things that I just didn’t think about amid all the drinking HE was doing. I can truly say that STM gave me the tools to use to keep things under control for ME. Once I used the tools suggested to me, I can honestly say that I was given a voice I didn’t know I had. I can say thanks to STM and their encouragement that my husband is now SOBER for a year and a half, and it has been awesome. SO, THANK YOU SAVE THE MICHAEL’S FOR WHAT YOU DO. YOU ALL ARE AMAZING PEOPLE. YOU SAVED TWO PEOPLE THE DAY YOU CALLED BACK. GOD BLESS.”
“Tapping into the support provided by Save The Michaels has been an absolute godsend. We highly recommend it.”
“I am beyond grateful to tell you that because of your services…I was able to have my two beautiful daughters returned to my care.”