10th Street Bridge to Shine Blue August 21st in Honor of National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day

On August 21, the 10th Street Bridge in Great Falls will be illuminated in blue to commemorate National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, a nationwide observance established by Facing Fentanyl and families impacted by the fentanyl crisis. This symbolic gesture, sponsored locally by Alliance for Youth and the Cascade County Substance Abuse Prevention Alliance, is part of a growing national effort to honor lives lost, raise awareness and drive action to prevent further tragedy. Illicit fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat the United States has ever faced. Overdose deaths continue to rise and a majority occur when individuals are alone. According to the CDC, 59% of fatal overdoses involved missed opportunities for intervention, highlighting the urgent need for community vigilance, education and connection. This day unites families, first responders, prevention advocates, educators, elected officials and communities in a shared mission to raise awareness, reduce stigma and save lives. Across the country, people are coming together for memorials, forums, educational campaigns and policy discussions, determined to prevent others from suffering similar loss. Here in Great Falls, the lighting of the 10th Street Bridge in blue is a solemn tribute to those we’ve lost—and a public call to action. Behind every statistic is a grieving family—parents who’ve lost sons and daughters, siblings mourning brothers and sisters, children growing up without a parent and friends carrying the weight of absence every day. Their pain is profound, their stories powerful and they remind us that this crisis is not abstract—it is personal and it is everywhere. National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day is more than a date. It is a meaningful opportunity for action, unity and hope. It is a day to ensure the message of prevention reaches every corner of our nation. Together, we honor the lives taken, support the families left behind and stand with those working every day to educate, prevent and protect. For more information about National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, visit www.facingfentanylnow.org. By Beth Price Morrison, Alliance for Youth: August 14, 2025