Opioids Don’t Discriminate: An Interactive Experience.

From November 5-9, you are invited to Opioids Don’t Discriminate: An Interactive Experience. This event profiles local statistics and opioid information while immersing participants in an interactive journey through three different fictionalized character stories, based on the real-life experiences of those affected by opioid use. These stories will address the pervasive stigmas and judgments about people who use drugs, strengthen empathy and understanding, and humanize substance use and misuse statistics.

Through interactive elements, you will learn about the science of addiction, the impact of opioids and how the crisis is affecting us locally, provincially and nationally.

Walk in Natasha, David and Max’s shoes, and challenge what you think you know.

Please note this event deals with real-life subject matter about addiction and substance misuse. This may have sensitive content for some participants. Subject matter may not be appropriate for youth under 12 years of age.

Event Location and Times

The interactive experience is located in the Community Centre’s Agora at 401 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park.

Monday, November 5: 2 p.m.-7 p.m.
Tuesday, November 6: 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Wednesday, November 7: 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Thursday, November 8: 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Friday, November 9: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

School, group or organization bookings can be arranged by contacting Family and Community Services at familyandcommunity@strathcona.ca or 780-464-4044.

Meet Max

Max is smart and reliable. He loves reading, math, sports and his cat. He loves to draw and paint buildings and cityscapes, and works hard at school so he can apply for post-secondary scholarships to study architecture.

Max has grown up in the same town with the same friends, but his parents are separating so he and his mom and brother are moving to a new city to be near his grandma. She just had hip surgery so she needs a lot of help so Max is trying to help out as best he can. Moving and his parents splitting has been really hard. And even though his dad travels a lot, Max misses him.

Max doesn’t want to make new friends. He had friends. He had a life. But his parents seem so much happier, and even Robbie likes his new school, so Max is trying not to complain too much. He just feels alone, and he is so uncomfortable at school. The people are different, the classes are different, and he only knows his family. Max feels anxious more and more every day, trying to fit in, keep his grades up, help out with grandma and Robbie… When he’s invited to a party, he’s hopeful he will finally make some new friends and feel like he belongs.

Meet David

David is an account manager and has been working his way towards a promotion for the last couple of years. He has two younger children and is happily married. His kids’ activities keep him and his wife busy after work, and when he isn’t cheering them on, he plays beer league hockey and goes to movies with his wife.

He was recently injured at one of his games, and he is struggling with the pain. The hospital gave him medication, but he still can’t go back to work, and on bad days, he can hardly get out of bed. He tries to cook and help at home, but it’s difficult and painful. Getting to appointments and even to his kids’ activities is a huge struggle, and he’s becoming more and more frustrated. It seems like nobody actually understands how much he hurts and how much his injury is impacting his life. Work and bills are piling up, he’s missing out on his kids’ lives and he hasn’t been on a date with his wife in ages. He just wants to get back to normal and feel better. It shouldn’t be this hard.

Meet Natasha

Natasha is separating from her husband and her mom is recovering from hip surgery, so Natasha accepted a transfer for her job so she and her sons, 16-year-old Max and 8-year-old Robbie, can be closer to family. While the move takes them away from the only home her boys have known, Natasha knows how much they love their grandma and is hopeful they’ll feel supported and grounded in family life. Both Max and Robbie have always had large social circles and like to be active, so Natasha is confident they’ll adjust quickly.

Max is smart, reliable and loves school. While he missed team tryouts, he’s making new friends and he’s been a huge help driving Robbie to school, helping out at home and even taking food to his grandma and spending time with her. There have been many long days as Natasha transitions to her new job, takes her mom to appointments, helps her around the house and with meals, and helps the boys settle in, but it seems like they’re adjusting, and she hopes she made the right choice for them all.

Information and article provided by www.strathcona.ca

Phone: 780-464-4044
Fax: 780-449-1220
Email: familyandcommunity@strathcona.ca