Tomorrow morning (July 26) an awareness walk is occurring in Morley to shed light on the rampant use of met​hamphetamine on and off the reserve.

Denise Mitchell is a Community Support and Prevention Coordinator as well as one of the organizers of the walk; she shares the event was created out of community response and is a being made possible by a collaborative effort between the Stoney Health Centre and the RCMP.

Mitchell has been working in the community since January and is hoping this is a first step in creating a community response in relation to drug use, misuse of drugs, and opiates. "It is a meth awareness walk, we are not doing it as an addiction or drug awareness walk because we want to specifically focus and give facts and information regarding meth."

Since January, Mitchell has been approached many times about the opiate crisis on the Nation. "I have had many requests, many community members approaching me and asking me to do something, create a program, to do something to bring awareness of the impact and the consequences related to meth use."

Exactly how rampant meth use is on the reserve is not exactly known, but Mitchell does say the issues appear to be getting worse. "The number of people turning to meth use are increasing because there are incidences that could be directly linked to meth use and are escalating."

The walk will begin at 10 am in the parking lot of the Stoney Tribal Administration Building and Mitchell shares just come out and support the community. "It will start off with some opening remarks from Sykes Powderface who is one of the elders in the community and is an advocate for a drug free life and community."

The walk will wrap up at the Morley Recreational Community Gym with a pipe ceremony, prayers, and an interactive discussion involving a panel of speakers who will take questions from community members.

The Meth Awareness Walk will conclude around 1:30 with a community bbq and door prizes.