Raising overdose awareness through Leah’s Light

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Balan explains although her sister wasn’t homeless, she did have a substance abuse problem that she struggled with for close to 14 years.

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“She was actually working on her recovery in Calgary, she was in a program when she overdosed,” recalls Balan. “She was from Red Deer, born and raised and that’s part of the issue. Red Deer doesn’t have any treatment centres, so people that are struggling with addiction in the Red Deer and central Alberta area actually have to leave their home where they have no family and usually no support to go to a recovery centre.”

She says a treatment centre and safe injection site are desperately needed in Red Deer.

“This could be any one of us,” adds Balan. “Substance abuse problems can stem from many things, mental health issues, past trauma, physical abuse, poverty. Many people that are addicted to opioids actually start with a prescription from a doctor, so whether they were in a car accident or have chronic pain, that’s how they get addicted.”

During Leah’s recovery efforts, Balan says her sister kept talking about how she couldn’t wait to help other people through her own struggles, so she now wants to carry out those plans on her sister’s behalf.  

“I just want people to know that when someone is struggling with a substance abuse issue, they don’t want to be,” exclaims Balan. “They’re trying to get help, there’s just not a lot of options out there, especially in central Alberta. It’s really hard to get help when people are so judged, if people would just open their minds a little bit more and open their hearts, it would really help a lot of people that are in a bad situation.”

Described as a family friendly event, Leah’s Walk will also serve as a fundraiser for the Turning Point Society of Central Alberta, located in Red Deer.

Balan says people can register for Leah’s Walk until August 25 with donations also being accepted online or directly at The Turning Point.

The fundraising goal for Leah’s Walk is $10,000 with $5,885 of that raised so far as of this writing.