Participants sought for emotional photoshoot showing impact of opioid crisis
Credit to Author: Postmedia News| Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2019 19:00:20 +0000
A local advocacy group is staging what’s expected to be an emotional photoshoot to highlight the impact of the opioid crisis and to commemorate their lost loved ones.
Moms Stop The Harm is a national network of families who have lost relatives to drug overdoses. The group is calling for all Vancouver-area MSTH members and anyone affected by the opioid crisis to take part in a photoshoot on Saturday.
The photoshoot is inspired by a similar photo taken in Kelowna, in which members of the Okanagan-based chapter of MSTH gathered to have their photo taken while holding white crosses. The Kelowna photo has been used in public bus ads in Kelowna and Penticton to raise awareness of the drug epidemic, fight stigma and push for drug decriminalization.
The Vancouver photoshoot is taking place on Saturday, Nov. 30 outside the Jericho Hostel (1515 Discovery St., Vancouver) beginning at 1 p.m and is organized by Sharene Shuster, who lost her son Jordan last August due to a Fentanyl overdose at the age of 25.
The photo will be taken by photographer Gabrielle Beer, and the photoshoot is weather dependent.
Those interested in participating are asked to wear all black clothing and bring a framed photo no larger than 8-by-10 inches of a family member who has died due to drug use. If no photo is available, participants are invited to construct a white cross using baseboard instead.
Those wishing to participate are asked to RSVP with Shuster at sharene@telus.net. For more information, visit the MSTH Facebook page.