In an effort to heighten awareness of the issue of substance abuse and addiction recovery in the community, the GRAAB Coalition has proclaimed October as “31 Days of Prevention”. Working with “Partners in Prevention”, the GRAAB Coalition seeks to continue building the framework for lasting community change for the citizens of Bradley County.
Cleveland Family YMCA will be the site of the 9th Annual NOPE (Narcotic Overdose Prevention and Education) Task Force Candle Light Vigil on Thursday, and a first for the GRAAB Coalition. This is GRAAB’s final community event for 31 Days of Prevention.
Nationally, this vigil is held in memory of those who have lost their lives due to drug and alcohol related incidents, and those suffering from the disease of addiction. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 36,000 unintentional drug-related deaths nationwide last year.
"The key to drug prevention is community awareness," said Tanya Southerland, executive director of GRAAB Coalition. “The misuses of alcohol and illicit drugs are well documented, but few realize the immediate and long-lasting consequences from even a minor miscalculation with prescription drugs."
NOPE Task Force Executive Director and the founding vigil organizer, Karen Perry, added, “Many lives have been tragically destroyed or lost to the disease of addiction. Too often, this disease is perceived as deserved and shameful, leaving families and friends to grieve in silence or an addict alone to struggle to recover. Only through awareness and openness we can eliminate the prejudice that has followed the disease of addiction.”
Joining the community’s first vigil is Pray for PAUL. PFP is a ministry for other families with addicted loved ones as well as for the ones with addictions. The PRAY for PAUL message is simply that there is HOPE for those with addictions and through the power of prayer they cannot only receive restoration but also receive a life transformation, said officials.
Leesa Hoskins, creator for PFP, said, “Recovery is not a myth; it can be anyone’s reality. Through this campaign, my desire is to let other families know that they are not alone in their battle against addictions and that it is okay to speak up and request prayer for their loved ones.”
Pray for PAUL has joined the GRAAB Coalition in its continuing mission to bring awareness of substance abuse and the harmful effects of addiction. Approximately 24.6 million Americans have used illicit drugs in the past month, and 6.5 million Americans used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. Overcoming these alarming numbers requires collaboration and strength in numbers to help find solutions and provide resources.
During this event, members of the public will have opportunities to memorialize their loved ones who lost their struggle with substance abuse addiction or recognize and support the efforts of those who have maintained their recovery.
The mission of the GRAAB Coalition is to bring together concerned members and service providers of the community to facilitate lowering the misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, as well as other addictive behaviors, in Bradley and Polk Counties, by providing effective education, recovery, and support for youth, families, and the community.
For more information on this topic or other programs and opportunities available from the GRAAB Coalition, call 805-3367 or email info@graabcoalition.com.