By Caison Kirkland
caison.kirkland@gaflnews.com

VALDOSTA — At an opioid awareness event organized by Leadership Lowndes, community leaders, families, and health officials gathered to address the serious toll the opioid crisis has taken on South Georgia.

The “Dueling for Awareness” event started with an in-depth look at the epidemic, led by Kenneth Lowery, district epidemiologist for the South Health District. Lowery provided a detailed analysis of the impact of the opioid crisis, mainly due to synthetic drugs like fentanyl, resulting in a significant rise in overdose fatalities.

Lowery stressed that many of these deaths could have been avoided with greater public awareness and better access to life-saving tools like Narcan. He outlined his office’s efforts, including educating the public, distributing Narcan, and working with schools and healthcare providers to give the community the resources they need to fight this growing problem.

Following Lowery, Gus Walters shared a more personal perspective on the crisis. A touching video told the story of his son Austin, who tragically died after unknowingly taking a drug laced with fentanyl. Gus then spoke about the pain his family has endured, urging parents to have those hard conversations with their children about the dangers of the deadly drug before it is too late.

Since losing their son, Gus and his wife Beth have become outspoken advocates for opioid awareness, playing a key role in passing Austin’s Law earlier this year, which holds drug dealers accountable for distributing drugs that cause fatal overdoses.

State Sen. Russ Goodman closed the evening by thanking the Walters family for their courage and tireless advocacy. He spoke of meeting Gus and how their shared commitment to the fight united them.

Goodman credited Walters’ efforts as being crucial in getting Austin’s Law passed through the Georgia legislature. “All I was was somebody carrying the legislation; you all passed that bill,” Goodman said. “I have never seen a bill like this pass unanimously in both the House and the Senate. I am not somebody who talks like this a lot, but Austin was in that chamber.”

After Goodman’s remarks, the evening took a lighter turn with the “Dueling for Awareness” piano segment, which added a fun, interactive element to the event. Attendees could donate to have their favorite songs played by the dueling pianists, blending entertainment with purpose. Proceeds from the musical battle went toward opioid prevention efforts.

The Leadership Lowndes Class of 2024, which includes Shannon McGee, Elisa Ray, Jim Zacharias, Reed Salter, Vann Pitts, and Samantha Napier, emphasized the critical importance of the event’s mission.

In a collective statement, they expressed, “The message of this event cannot be overstated. Each statistic represents a life affected by this crisis, and it’s our responsibility to turn awareness into action.”