My Cause

I am doing this in honor of my sister Brittany, who died of a drug overdose on March 15th 2014. In 2014, there were 47,054 other people who died of an overdose in America. That’s 129 people per day. The numbers for 2015 haven’t been released yet, but they are projected to be even worse. This epidemic needs attention and my main cause is to try and help with that. I want to educate people who use drugs, or are around people who use, about Naloxone. The shot that reverses overdose. Naloxone is literally saving lives and people need to know about it and how to get it and how to use it. Each state has different laws regarding the access to and possession of Naloxone. I intend to learn about these laws in each of the states that I will be walking through to educate people that I encounter accurately. There is also a “Good Samaritan” law that is being passed in most states now. It gives immunity to people who call 911 for help when witnessing someone overdose. Meaning that they will not get arrested for drug possession or for the paraphernalia. In some states, the law also won’t violate probation or parole. I intend to teach people about this law, but to also encourage them to call for help even they do face criminal charges. A little time in jail is totally worth saving a life in my eyes.

My main cause is to help in the task reversing the number of drug overdose deaths so that they go down instead of up next year. I know the pain of losing the closest person in the world to me to overdose. I wish that no one else ever has to have the same hole in their heart. I hope that by doing this, I can bring some sort of support to any others that have lost a loved one to an overdose. I want Brittany back so bad, but since she is gone I hope that I will be able to save at least one life in her honor. I know she would like that…