Promoting Awareness Nationwide
A nonprofit organization based in Grand Junction, CO, Voices for Awareness Foundation promotes awareness about counterfeit drugs, illicit fentanyl, and self-harm. We attend events nationwide to share personal stories of loss and help raise community awareness in an effort to save lives. Contact Voices today!
Aug. 21st National Fentanyl Awareness and Prevention Day
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KFQX) — Andrea Thomas and the Voices for Awareness Foundation are wasting no time trying to save lives, “We are losing people everyday, we’re losing an entire generation and we are out of time we are past time,” Thomas said. United States fentanyl related deaths nearly doubled in the past two years, “We are asking people to face fentanyl now,” Thomas said. In 2020 fentanyl killed 35,000 people. In 2021 that number skyrocketed to 69,000, “It’s literally one pill could kill you,” Dan Rubinstein, 21st Judicial District Attorney said. With more deaths every day, the Voices for Awareness foundation says the deaths are preventable, “We want to bring attention to something that can affect your family today, or when you go to bed tonight,” Thomas said.
DA wants new crime for drug distribution
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KFQX) — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment data shows the number of fentanyl-related deaths in our state nearly doubled in 2021, “We can’t sit back and take any chances that people aren’t aware,” Janet Rowland, Mesa County Commissioner says. Mesa County first tackled meth when it exploded on the scene in 2004, now the county and district are teaming up to take on fentanyl with a prevention and awareness task force, “and the message is so different,” Dan Rubinstein, 21st Judicial District Attorney. With fentanyl addiction isn’t the concern, “It’s literally one pill could kill you,” Rubinstein says.
Cartels and Counterfeits: International Organized Crime Bring Counterfeit Drugs to the US
Andrea Thomas (counterfeit drug victim family advocate), Armando Rivera (Americas Product Illegal Trade and NACC Security Lead at Bristol-Myers Squibb,18 year veteran of the DEA), and Mark Baughman (DEA (ret) and Florida Sheriffs (ret) discuss the way that cartels are retooling their operations to more efficiently bring counterfeit medication into the United States.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE TOWN HALL – HB 19 263
Andrea Thomas, who is with “Voices for Awareness.” Speaks about the impact of illegal drugs and Fentanyl on her family and our community.
A big thank you to Colorado State Representative Matt Soper of House District 54, Delta County Sheriff Mark Taylor, Delta City Police Chief Luke Fedler and District Attorney Seth Ryan of Judicial District 7 (which covers 6 counties, Delta, Montrose, Ouray, Hinsdale, San Miguel and Gunnison,) for hosting the Criminal Justice Town hall at Bill Heddle’s on November 10. We were also fortunate to hear their guest speaker Andrea Thomas, who is with “Voices for Awareness.” She talked about the impact of illegal drugs and Fentanyl on her family and our community. There was a great turn out from the community and well received. DCI reporter was there and recorded it live to the DCI Facebook page.
