In New Partnership With Leidos, Ravens Support Fight Against Opioid Epidemic

The Baltimore Ravens are teaming with the technology giant Leidos to spread awareness about the opioid epidemic.

Starting with Thursday's preseason game and continuing through the regular season, Leidos and the Ravens will donate $50 for every tackle toward the purchase of drug disposal packets and supporting Baltimore-area nonprofits involved in the fight. For every interception and forced fumble, they'll donate another $1,000.

“We are pleased to partner with Leidos to bring more public attention to the opioid crisis across our country,” team President Dick Cass said in a statement. “We are hopeful that the drug disposal packets being purchased by Leidos and the Ravens will make for safer and healthier communities.”

For Reston, Virginia-based Leidos, it's part of a company initiative going back to 2017.

“Teaming with the Ravens on the ‘Tackling Opioid Addiction’ campaign helps address an ongoing public health crisis with meaningful action,” said Leidos Chairman and CEO Roger Krone. “This effort will continue to increase awareness of an epidemic that is devastating many lives across the nation while boosting prevention efforts in the Baltimore community.”

It's a cause close to the heart of WBAL's Keith Mills. A recovering addict, he regularly speaks in the Baltimore area about the risks of drug abuse. He works with Tracey Burchell, whose son Ryan Burchell, is in recovery from heroin addiction.

Tracey Burchell said her son's addiction began with Percocet prescribed when he had his wisdom teeth taken out. She said he began stealing from family members and at one point listed the family's TV on Craigslist. He eventually started using heroin because it was cheaper, she said. He would use cocaine to give himself enough energy to go to work in construction.

After a friend died of an overdose, the family sent him to Florida. He stayed there for 30 days, came home and soon relapsed. They then sent him to a local treatment center, which kicked him out. A third attempt at rehabilitation stuck.

"We basically kept him in a bubble, protected, until we felt safe to start reintroducing him to the world," Burchell said.

She credited Suboxone and therapy with helping to curb her son's cravings. He's been clean since Jan. 6, 2016.

"[What's kept Ryan clean has been] support, knowing that he's loved unconditionally, no labeling, no judgment," Burchell said. "You have to keep supporting them. Don't let them feel that they're a failure."

She said her son, now 23, has mended his relationship with his sister and mother and is working on mending his relationship with his father.

Burchell now does a weekly podcast with Mills.