About Us

The Council to Prevent Opioid Dependence (CTPOD) is dedicated to preventing opioid dependence and addiction in Rhode Island and the surrounding region. CTPOD will do this through educating the key stakeholders and the public, arming them with the knowledge needed to take effective steps to substantially reduce new instances of substance abuse disorder, and working to reduce the stigma that stands in the way.

The Council to Prevent Opioid Dependence will work to advance initiatives and programs to educate the medical community, policy makers, parents, patients, first responders such as police and fire, veterans and the public at large about evidence-based prevention steps, including safe prescribing, and the use of non-opioid pain relief alternatives. Additionally, it will provide educational materials and programs to sub-groups that are more at risk for addiction, including, but not limited to, student athletes, veterans, and people with a family history of addiction, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Additionally, it will provide broad education through social media, media releases and Public Service Announcements (PSA’s), among other ways of reaching the public on the safe disposal of opioid-based painkillers to prevent diversion and other effective prevention steps.

Josh Rosenthal, Chair

About josh

Activated by the overdose of his son Nathan, Josh Rosenthal is dedicated to preventing other families from experiencing the loss his family did. Josh serves as the Chair of the Prevent Opioid Abuse RI Advisory Board and has been involved with other organizations working to curb the opioid epidemic.

He brings a wealth of invaluable professional experience as an executive coach to his volunteer work with the Council. Over the past 35 years Josh has worked with senior management to provide in-depth expertise in organizational and leadership assessment, organization strategy, design and governance. Having developed his expertise in these areas by consulting with clients from numerous industries including many Fortune 100 global companies, closely-held, family controlled business and governmental organizations, he has focused on each client’s unique strategic imperatives and marketplace demands. Working closely with senior executives to attract, retain, and cultivate executive talent, Josh’s assignments have included organizational design, executive assessment, human capital practice strategies and implementation as well senior executive teamwork and development. Josh’s work is aimed at supporting senior executive leaders to create organizational systems that increase shareholder value, employee effectiveness, and the bottom-line.

Josh received an Ed.D. degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston University. His B.S. degree in Psychology and an Ed.M. degree in Counseling, were both obtained from The American University.

Joanne bilotta, executive director

About joanne

Joanne is committed to helping people living with substance use disorders access the care they need to live a healthy, happy, and productive life. I have over 25 years of experience in healthcare marketing developing innovative products and conducting results-oriented marketing and public service campaigns.

As the Community Liaison for The Journey to Hope, Health & Healing, Inc., Joanne conducted outreach and Medication-Assisted Treatment referral and education to community agencies, medical providers, and other sources where someone who needs help may be identified. She established referral protocols between The Journey and these community-based agencies to raise awareness of the services available through outpatient treatment at The Journey to increase referrals for services and ensure anyone who needed help received the care they need.

She serves on the Advisory Board to Prevent Opiate Abuse RI where she advocates for legislative policy changes and education to help prevent addiction to opioid abuse. As a Board Member of the Rhode Island Business Group on Health, Joanne was the Campaign Manager for the highly successful consumer education campaign, Choosing Wisely RI which promoted patient-physician communication about risks and alternatives to treatments to reduce unnecessary care and prevent harm. She also serves on the Rhode Island Department of Health's Prevention Strategy workgroup and helped determine the State's 2021 prevention strategy and targeted initiatives.