A Grande Prairie group is putting a spotlight on drug overdoses. On August 24th, an awareness event will be held in Muskoseepi Park for free to the public. Chair of the Peace Country Drug Awareness Coalition Tyla Savard explains that the event is near to her heart because her family has struggled with the drug scene in the city.
“I have a daughter that got mixed up in the fentanyl epidemic. We are going on about five years dealing with this. We have had absolute chaos and to the extreme, like living a movie script. Guys at your door at three in the morning with guns and things like that happening.”
Savard says her daughter is a year into recovery and she wants to use her experience to reach out to others that may need it.
“When you are going through it, you feel like you are the only person in the world going through it. It is becoming more socially acceptable to talk about it, but it takes that one person to be brave to start the conversation.”
International Overdose Awareness Day is August 31st, but to mark the day in Grande Prairie, the day is being moved to a few days beforehand on the 24th. The activities will start with a march with signs from HIV North starting at 4:30 p.m. ending at the amphitheater in the park from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Naloxone kits will also be handed out to community members that may need them.
Prior to the march and awareness event, a flag making ceremony will take place. The “flags of hope” will be strung across the bridge near 214 Place when they are complete. That event will happen on August 1st & 2nd as well as the 8th & 9th.
