Alexis Pleus

Alexis is a licensed professional engineer with over 25 years of experience in the design and construction industry, has been a corporate trainer for over 20 years, and was an adjunct professor for 9 years in the Civil Engineering program at SUNY Broome. She is also an artist, a writer, a public speaker, a community organizer and volunteer. But the most important role she has had in her life is being the mother of 3 sons. In 2014, she lost her oldest son Jeff to a heroin overdose. As a result of that experience, Alexis founded Truth Pharm, a nonprofit volunteer organization with a focus on raising awareness, reducing the stigma, educating, and advocating to reduce the harms caused by substance use. Truth Pharm is deeply committed to harm reduction as well as social and racial justice issues as we move forward in addressing the current overdose epidemic. Alexis learns the most by listening to those who have been directly impacted and their lived experiences guide Truth Pharm’s work. Truth Pharm has developed and provides many educational programs for the community in addition to support groups for those impacted. Nothing can replace her son Jeff, but Truth Pharm’s work provides comfort and relief from grief. The greatest gift it’s given Alexis is the gift of saving lives.