Substance abuse survivors speak out at Petersburg recovery, awareness event

PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) — As National Substance Abuse Recovery Month continues through September, the city of Petersburg celebrated with a resource fair at its public library.

With more than 15 vendors in one room, the event hosted on Wednesday, Sept. 25 offered vital resources for those battling substance abuse.

People in all different stages of their recovery journey shared their stories — from those who had been in recovery for decades to those still in active addiction. Speakers included Brittany Ahrend, who struggled with alcoholism and prescription drug addiction for about 15 years.

Ahrend told attendees that she could scarcely believe that her path had led her here.

“If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be standing here today, I would have said, ‘I think you’re having a mental breakdown,'” Ahrend said. “My story is not like the ones you see in the movies. I died twice and came back to life — both times, obviously.”

After Ahrend spoke, first lady of Virginia Suzanne Youngkin and Petersburg Mayor Sam Parham offered words of encouragement to those struggling. They also made an announcement on behalf of Gov. Glenn Youngkin, declaring September as Recovery Month at the state level.

The announcement was met with applause, as community members have been pushing for more awareness.

“If we keep talking about it, it gets it on people’s minds,” Ahrend said. “It puts it in their mind that this is possible — recovery is possible.”

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reports that over 2,000 Virginians die annually from drug overdoses, with around 80% of those deaths involving fentanyl. Suzanne Youngkin noted that these numbers have slightly decreased in the past two years.

“We think that there are a number of contributing factors,” Suzanne Youngkin said of what may be driving that decline. “One is the prevalence of naloxone — which is an opioid overdose-reversing drug — and the other is the increase in education.”

Suzanne Youngkin, in partnership with Attorney General Jason Miyares, recently introduced a campaign to reduce fentanyl overdoses called “One Pill Can Kill.” She said this effort centers around the idea that “it only takes one” counterfeit pill, fentanyl-laced joint or vape to kill someone.

“However, it only takes one community event, one doctor, one family member, one caring individual to talk to those that they love about the dangers of fentanyl,” Suzanne Youngkin said.

More information on the campaign can be found here .

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