Be Gutsy

The Latinx community is grappling with prescription opioid overdose increases as the COVID-19 pandemic is fueling the established epidemic in the U.S. I am moved to act by the urgency of the crisis—now compounded by the pandemic—among young Latinx in particular and am seeking to bring—Be Gutsy—to scale addressing the magnitude of the crisis. As an Elevate Prize winner, I will scale the impact of Be Gutsy to targeted areas of the U.S. where disparities and complexities are highest. This will be made possible through the intellectual and financial support of MIT Solve. 

With the prize funds, I will also dedicate more time to strategically growing the organization and ensuring its sustainability and scalability. With the provided strategic marketing and media expertise, I will amplify Be Gutsy messaging across the country—reaching millions of Latinx through public awareness campaigns and refine our educational component and digital platform.  Through the priceless support, network connections, and mentorship provided, I will be able to make critical and lasting connections with other innovators that will not only help lead to a more vibrant and responsive organization but also help me integrate new perspectives and lessons in the way I carry out my life-mission work.  

I am not afraid to tackle complex issues or think of innovative ways to address the core of an issue. I am particularly driven to be outspoken on the most stigmatized issues and spark tough conversations with what unites us—humanity and empathy. As a clinical psychologist, I have acquired the expertise of developing emotional intelligence (EI).  EI is my tool of choice to build up communities, families, and individuals while working towards bridging greater inclusion and promoting social equity. 

I lost my older brother to the fight against prescription opioids.  While I was deeply devastated, I was passionately moved to raise awareness about prescription opioids within my community—that has been disproportionately affected by this epidemic. This spurred me to create Be Gutsy, an innovative national awareness campaign to educate the Latinx community about the dangers of misusing prescription opioids. Be Gutsy has enjoyed great success, directly impacting over 10,580 lives and indirectly tens of thousands of youths in just two years. I still feel, see and hear the need. That is why I am committed to delivering its impact to where it is most needed as communities reel with the double jeopardy of the pandemic and the opioid epidemic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 5 teens abused prescription drugs, and 10% of youth aged 12 to 25 have abused prescription opioids. This misuse is a significantly expanding threat looming over Latinx youth communities in the U.S. 

Kaiser Family Foundation and CDC indicated that fatalities among U.S. Latinx populations increased by 88% from 2014 to 2020, compared to a 55% increase amongst Whites. Research finds that these challenges in Latinx communities are associated with a lack of culturally relevant efforts, the stigma surrounding conversations about emotional and behavioral health, and incorrect terminology. In other words, Latinx may misuse or become addicted simply because instructions on pill bottles are not in the patient’s native language or because our culture believes that "sharing is caring" without being aware that sharing a medication can bring irreparable harm. 

I designed Be Gutsy to break down the barriers preventing Latinx from receiving the tailored awareness they need to prevent them from succumbing to the danger of prescription opioids. Be Gutsy creates culturally and linguistically safe spaces where young Latinx feel understood. We also enable awareness and education by driving avenues for expression and participation that break down stigma.  

Be Gutsy’s people-centered,  multi-dimensional approach is distinct in that it: 1) addresses Latinx youth’s opioid misuse by building emotional intelligence and social skills; 2) employs both trusted adults and peers in and of the community that speaks their language and understand their culture to raise awareness on the consequences of prescription opioids and tackle the emotional and behavioral health stigma that is so prevalent in our communities; 3) provides safe and supportive venues for self-expression through art and theater moving youth’s experiences, interests and preferences into the forefront; 4) offers opportunities for youth to share with peers as Community Wellness Ambassadors through public-speaking; 5) engages community-based, educational and health care institutions as key partners; and 5) co-designs efforts with youth that will allow them to access their emotional intelligence and other forms of social-resiliency-building tools. We are proud of our platform’s democratizing features; it is available to anyone, anywhere, to use and create positive change. 

Be Gutsy catalyzes engagement and empowers Latinx youth to destigmatize and ignite conversations about personal challenges, emotional health, substance use, and opportunities to thrive. Regardless of how they decide to engage, our participants feel accepted and become powerful agents of change within their communities.

Our work is centered on a desire to prevent loss of life; 130+ people die from opioid-related drug overdoses daily.  As I learned through personal experience with my brother, all the research and targeted conversations I have had, Latinx youth are at disparate risk. My desired impact is saving lives and providing life-transforming opportunities by raising awareness and supporting young Latinx through EI. By using EI and social skills, I am working on building up young people through improved self-perception (self-regard and self-actualization), self-expression (assertiveness and independence), decision-making (problem-solving and impulse control), as well as stress management (stress tolerance and optimism). They learn their capabilities.

A critical strategy and relationship to achieving this impact are through our work with the health care sector. In collaboration with trusted neighborhood-based physicians, we can assess just how much young patients know about prescription opioids, positively enable uncomfortable conversations, and create awareness. We work with the healthcare sector in creating relatable narratives to share with patients about the dangers of prescription opioid misuse. We also bring our digital platform and displays into the health spaces while providing educational materials that would capture the eye and interest of young patients, their families, and communities.