Proceeds from this fall’s Drug-Free Dash in Boundary Bay have been donated to a pair of local organizations that support youth.
Cheques for $1,000 were given to KidSport Delta and the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Coast B.C., which fund involvement in organized sports and after-school activities to help promote an active, healthy lifestyle for youth.
Hosted by the Society for a Drug-Free B.C., in partnership with the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, the Drug-Free Dash 5K/10K was organized to raise awareness of the drug epidemic in the Lower Mainland.
“There is a huge opioid crisis in B.C.” said Wendy Field, co-director and spokesperson for the society. “Last year there were over 1,500 people in B.C. who suffered illicit drug toxicity deaths or overdoses – a record high for the province.
“Our overworked social services, corrections personnel, police and first responders are hard-pressed to handle this crisis. They handle the effects of drug overdoses, from fentanyl and crystal-meth to heroin and other street drugs. Often, they are too late. We need to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs and educate our youth so they can make an informed decision, and are armed with the truth about drugs so they can say no,” added Field.
The foundation’s The Truth About Drugs educational materials and kits are provided for free by the society to youth groups, law enforcement and educators to aid them in drug education.
The hard-hitting DVDs and booklets describe the most commonly abused drugs, complete with street names and harmful side effects. The aim is to get these into schools and youth groups, so children will know what to expect, and can make life-saving decisions.
