Darren’s Voice hosting school supply drive, passing out naloxone

ROCKINGHAM — One local group fighting against Richmond County’s opioid epidemic will be holding a school supply drive this weekend.

Darren’s Voice will be collecting school supplies at Captain D’s starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. The group will also be distributing free naloxone, an overdose reversal medication, and “other awareness items.”

Darren’s Voice was founded by Shelia Bostic and named in honor of her son who died from fentanyl poisoning in 2022.

“Everyone deserves a second chance at life,” Bostic said.

Bostic went to Raleigh earlier this year in support of legislation — Healthy and Safe Students in Every School — that would require public schools to keep a supply of naloxone on hand.

Records with the N.C. General Assembly show that the Senate version of the bill was sent to the Rules Committee on May 6, the day it passed its first reading. The House version was sent to the Education Committee.

Richmond County has the highest fentanyl-positive death rate in the state at 77.1, with 33 deaths.