More than 5,000 people participated in Shatterproof walks in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Shatterproof)
Drug poisoning deaths have increased by 75% in Texas over the last five years. In hopes of ending the stigma surrounding substance-use disorders, hundreds of people are expected to gather in Dallas Saturday for a walk sponsored by the nonprofit Shatterproof. The Shatterproof Walk to End Addiction Stigma will bring together advocates, families and those in recovery who want to see addictions addressed with more compassion.
Niki Caliguire, director of fundraising programs for Shatterproof, said misinformation can keep people from seeking help.
“Because the stigma still exists, it silences not only the families who have lost people to this treatable illness but also prevents millions of people from seeking lifesaving treatment,” she explained.
A recent study shows that 74% of Americans don’t recognize addiction as a chronic mental illness. The event will start at eight o’clock Saturday morning at The Sound at Cypress Waters in Dallas. Registration is at shatterproof.org.
It’s estimated only one in five people who are dealing with a substance-abuse disorder are getting treatment. Caliguire said they provide families with tools needed to address tough situations.
“Shatterproof recently released our caregivers guide to Shatterproof families, which provides parents with specific actions they can take to identify substances, spot symptoms and have conversations when they matter,” she said.
Shatterproof Walks were also held in Chicago, Boston, Washington DC, New York and Los Angeles. Caliguire said people who can’t attend the in-person walks have created their own events to bring awareness to the problem.
“We have somebody in Colorado that does a couple of hikes every year,” she continued. “And each year they choose the number of miles for how old the person they lost to a substance-abuse disorder would be this year. We have a few hotel partners that get their staff together and do a walk around the hotels. Some families host barbecues in their backyards.”
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