An event to remember those lost to drug overdose was held in Red Deer on August 29 as part of International Overdose Awareness month.
The gathering brought people together from all walks of life to put faces and names to those lost in this quiet epidemic.
Harm reduction agency Turning Point was also recently informed their provincial funding will cease as of November 1st.
The non-profit was started originally as the Central Alberta AIDS Network Society, and has since expanded into other areas such as harm reduction, overdose prevention, homeless night reach & rural & women’s outreach programing.
Other groups such as Safe Harbour & Moms Stop The Harm came together at this year’s event to show their solidarity with the work that they do.
Highlighted as concerns were the loss of the downtown drop-in space, the loss of health promotion & women’s programming, and STBBI testing & treatment.
Hometown Media Stettler spoke with organizers at the event to see how this will affect people in central Alberta:
A link to Turning Point’s Gofundme page can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-turning-point-keep-its-doors-open
Following the remembrance ceremony and lunch, Moms Stop The Harm carried purple hearts with the names of lost loved ones down to Red Deer City Hall Park.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, visit: https://www.momsstoptheharm.com/
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
