Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan (CCSEM) is working to address the Opioid crisis through a marketing partnership involving former players in the NFL. In April, Catholic Charities Monroe office benefitted from proceeds raised at a luncheon event at Monroe Community College campus sponsored by NFL Alumni Detroit and the Sports Marketing Agency. Organizers promoted the event during a television interview on WXYZ news. (Click here to see the news clip.) “It’s a violent sport” said former NFL player and vice president of NFL Alumni Detroit, Pete Chryplewicz. “I had to take pain medication to get on the field to overcome injuries. Sometimes guys long after their careers are over can’t move beyond, and its stays with them and turns into an addiction.” Sean Jordan, managing director for the Sports Marketing Agency, explained addiction affects more than just NFL players. “The purpose of the luncheon is to have folks from the Monroe community be introduced to this as a broad-spectrum issue. There are several problems and issues that resonate with the NFL, but this goes all the way down to the everyday person.” Catholic Charities offers substance abuse treatment for all types of addiction through its Behavioral Health Counseling ministry at seven offices throughout southeast Michigan. CCSEM and the Sports Marketing Agency plan on working together to continue to bring awareness to the communities served by CCSEM. Stay tuned. More news to come!