A local video series titled “Critical Condition: The Opioid Crisis in Grande Prairie” produced by the Grande Prairie Community Opioid Response Task Force is premiering to the community on Tuesday, February 5.

The video series raises awareness about the crisis and aims to reduce the stigma surrounding opioid use. It features profiles of individuals with lived experience, family members affected, front-line workers and others impacted by the crisis to provide multiple community perspectives on the complexity of the issue. 

The premiere event takes place on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 from 7:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. at the Grande Prairie Live Theatre. Tickets are free but attendees are encouraged to pre-register at the Grande Prairie Live Theatre box office either in-person or online at gplt.ca. All members of the public are welcome to attend.

A question and answer period with a panel of people with lived experience and front-line workers is scheduled to follow the screening.

“The overwhelming response from people willing to participate in the video series speaks directly to the human face of the crisis we are experiencing and how many lives it has touched. Our hope is that the range of perspectives featured in the video series helps break down the stigma surrounding opioid use and demonstrates how we must come together as community to respond,” says Mayor Bill Given.

The Grande Prairie Community Opioid Response Task Force produced the video series with funding from the Government of Alberta through the Opioid Response Public Awareness Grant for Communities.

The Grande Prairie Opioid Response Task Force was launched in December 2017 by Mayor Bill Given in response to the opioid crisis in Grande Prairie. It is composed of social service agencies, health care representatives, RCMP, members of the business community, school district representatives and several municipal government departments. The purpose of the Task Force is to coordinate community efforts in responding to the opioid crisis to develop a response based on local need and resources.

Information provided by the City of Grande Prairie.