Initiatives

Spent Nothing On Programs To Fight The Opioid Epidemic

According to a Business Insider investigation, Vance’s non-profit spent no money on programs to fight the opioid epidemic. A non-profit expert called the non-profit a “charade” and “superficial,” lambasting the team for “sitting around doing nothing.” 

Brought a Purdue Pharma Propagandist To Ohio

J.D. Vance said his non-profit would sponsor a yearlong fellowship for Dr. Sally Satel, best known for being a key player in Purdue Pharma’s PR campaign to downplay the risks of OxyContin. Dr. Satel shared drafts of her articles with Purdue Pharma officials and Purdue’s PR firm prepped and recommended her for interviews with national media. 

Purdue Pharma profited off the pain of Ohioans while OxyContin flooded our state. Thanks to companies like Purdue, the AP reports, “Ohio remains one of the hardest-hit states for deadly drug overdoses, with about 14 people dying each day, according to the most recent statistics.” But instead of helping, J.D. Vance hired an apologist who downplayed the deadly cost of this crisis. 

Used Non-Profit To Position Himself For A Political Run

Instead of working to find solutions to the opioid epidemic, Vance’s non-profit dedicated 96.4 percent of its funding to staff salaries and overhead in its first year. Jai Chabria, the non-profit’s principal officer, earned more in management fees than the organization spent in programming. Now, after doing nothing to solve this crisis, Jai Chabria has taken on a new position as Vance’s top political advisor in his run for U.S. Senate.   

What was Vance doing instead of working on his non-profit to address the opioid crisis? Promoting himself and fielding a poll on his future political ambitions.