A network of parents affected by substance use hopes to put a spotlight on drugs and drug addiction in the city. Moms Stop the Harm will be hosting an Overdose Awareness event on Wednesday evening at Muskoseepi Park.
Leadership team member and Grande Prairie resident Tyla Savard says overdoses have affected everyone in some way.
“Every time that there’s an overdose especially if there’s a death from an overdose there are around 145 people that are directly affected… There is that ripple effect. We are all impacted in one way or another.”
The free event will start with an awareness march at 4:30 p.m. leaving from HIV North. People will march through the downtown core to Muskoseepi Park where they will have the opportunity to share their stories and offer messages of hope. Savard wants to remind people that things like this happen in all communities.
“This is an issue that we have in every community, our community is no different… It affects every social class and every age. Everyone is impacted by it.”
Savard speaks from experience. Her daughter was addicted to drugs but has been clean for two years. She says no one should ever feel scared to talk to their children or other family members about drugs.
“Everybody has a different level of understanding and education on it. Don’t be scared to have those conversations with your kids or your neighbour… Everybody is somebody’s someone and they are important.”
International Overdose Awareness Day will be taking place in different provinces all over the country. The free event in Grande Prairie will be held on August 29 and is open to the public.