NOPE history

In 2002 The Florida Office of Drug Control noticed an alarming number of drug overdose and drug related deaths amongst the youth in Palm Beach County and requested the community to take action.

Community Leaders, Government Agencies, Local Businesses and Families who have lost loved ones to drug related incidents came together to help form a Task Force aimed to prevent drug abuse and overdose. This Task Force became known as NOPE, Narcotic Overdose Prevention and Education. It was suggested by Parents and Law Enforcement that we reach out to our youth through the schools by delivering dramatic high impact, school presentations about the dangers and consequence's of drug abuse. Seven presentations were delivered to students in Palm Beach County during the 2002/2003 school year, all with very positive results.

NOPE Task Force became a 501 C-3 Non-Profit Organization on June 24, 2004 expanding its mission to include treatment support, drug use assessments and legislative efforts as well as enabling NOPE to reach out to all of Palm Beach County Schools and expand into other Counties in Florida and Nationally.

NOPE founders


The Honorable Nelson E. Bailey
Palm Beach County

Jan Cairnes
Vice President, NOPE Task Force
Prevention Manager, Hanley Center

Maryann Carey
Mother of Steven Carey
Treasurer, NOPE Task Force
Program Coordinator, NOPE Task Force

Martin Epstein
Assistant State Attorney
Palm Beach County

Patricia Hindle
Mother of Richard Van Nest

Deborah Johnson
Palm Beach County School District

Captain Jeffery C. Lindskoog
Advisory Board, NOPE Task Force
Captain Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office,
Community Relations Division
B.A. Criminal Justice Management Institute, Aurora University

Dr. Gary Martin
Associate Dean for Student Wellness
LYNN University, Detective Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
Violent Crimes Division

Karen H. Perry
Mother of Richard Perry, Jr.
Secretary, NOPE Task Force
Executive Director, NOPE Task Force

Richard W. Perry
Father of Richard Perry, Jr.
President, NOPE Task Force
President/CEO, Security Networks

Diane Smith
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office

Sgt. Jay Wilber
Palm Beach Gardens Police Department