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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

breaking the vicious cycle of poor health

PEP Society expanding to Red Deer to support loved ones of those experiencing addiction

Mar 26, 2025 | 6:00 AM

The PEP Society, or Parents Empowering Parents — a support group for loved ones of those experiencing addiction — is expanding to Red Deer.

The group’s first session is April 1, and will continue to meet every Tuesday evening, from 7-9, at the YMCA in north Red Deer.

PEP executive director, Lerena Greig, explains the organization was formed 20 years ago in Strathcona County; it’s since launched regularly recurring meetings in Edmonton, Sherwood Park and St. Albert, as well as a virtual group open to all Albertans, which runs Wednesday nights from 7-9.

“We want to be in communities we believe have a need for what PEP offers, but we also want people to know we’re invested in those communities. We have relationships in the community,” says Greig.

That includes the Central Alberta Drug Treatment Court.

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“What we do recognizes that family and caregivers of those struggling with addiction can kind of get wrapped up into the illness. They need their own supports in order to stay healthy in the midst of supporting that loved one,” she says.

“We provide education, knowledge, and peer support in a professionally-facilitated setting, and we’ve hired people who live in Red Deer to be facilitators, including Kath Hoffman.”

Hoffman is the former long-time executive director at Red Deer’s Safe Harbour Society, which runs the emergency homeless shelter, a mats program and a detox program, among other things.

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READ MORE: Defining reality: Safe Harbour Society bids adieu to Captain Kath Hoffman

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“You’ll often hear from folks experiencing addiction that one of the most important aspects of their recovery is their support system. If that support system is not healthy, then we go back to that never-ending cycle of unhealthiness,” added Greig.

“There’s so much pain and chaos involved with having a loved one struggling with addiction, so we want to support the support system.”

Greig noted also that the group is a 100 per cent safe, non-judgmental space, which can be powerful and empowering.

“There’s strength in numbers,” she believes.

Group sessions are drop-in and there’s no need to register.

PEP offers too a toll-free family support line, which is available 365 days a year, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. It can be reached at 1-877-991-2737.

More information is at pepsociety.ca.

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