Flashlight Vigil for Thursday Evening Reminder

The goal of the Asheville-Buncombe Drug Commission is to "light up the sky" over Asheville this coming Thursday evening. The flashlight drug harm vigil on city-county plaza will find participants shining their lights skyward as they call the name of someone who has been harmed by drugs. Around 7:00 a giant searchlight beam coming from city-county plaza will be the signal for everyone in Asheville is who concerned about the harms of hard drugs to step onto their porch or yard and shine their own light.

Together - we want to "light up the sky"

over Asheville...

We need your help to get the word out to everyone!

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Asheville-Buncombe Drug Commission

Learn, focus, act ~ together...

Countdown!

4 days until our community drug vigil!

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Drug Fact # 4

The treatment success rate for addiction to crack cocaine and meth are abysmal. Some studies state that no more than 10% of those who become addicted to these drugs are able to achieve long term success in breaking away. We should not stop trying to help those already addicted, but greatest success will occur with

impairing recruitment of new users.

We must stop the harm!

“Stop the Harm” Flashlight Vigil

Bringing our community together to shine a light on the harms of hard drugs…

Where: City-County Plaza (you bring a flashlight and we’ll bring the red cellophane covers)

When: Thursday evening, February 22, 2007, rain, snow or shine from 6:30-7:15 pm

Who: Anyone who has lost a family member to drugs, been personally affected by drugs, is

living near drug activity, or who cares about the harms.

Why: To highlight the harms of hard drugs, illuminate causes, and call the public and city leaders to action in addressing our open air drug market.

Event Schedule

• Introductory comments- Councilman Mumpower
• Opening prayer- Pastor Whitesides
• Welcome from the Mayor- Mayor Bellamy
• Take a stand- Matt Mittan
• Presentation by a father and son on drug harms- Shad & Shad Jr. Waters
• Presentation by a young lady- Ms. Amy
• Fighting back with song- Rockell Whitesides
• Flashlight ceremony – voices and lights over the city! Carl Mumpower
• “Stop the Harm” chant- Selina Sullivan
• Closing prayer followed by the Lord’s Prayer- Pastor Buddy Corbin

This will be a 30-40 minute event from beginning to end. Each presentation will be 2-3 minutes. The highlight will be a ceremony where participants (everyone is asked to bring a flashlight) will shine their light on the ground – those who have a family member, friend, or loved one who has been harmed will have a red cover on their flashlight and one by one call a name they wish to recognize and raise their flashlight toward the night as they do so. When all names have been called, everyone else in attendance will raise their flashlight and that will be the moment we turn on the SkyTracker search light. That, in turn, will be the signal for everyone in Asheville who cannot attend the event to step onto their porch, yard, or street and shine their own light toward the night. It’s all about shining a light on a commitment to “Stopping the Harm” of hard drugs in Asheville ~ together…

~Sponsored by the Asheville-Buncombe Drug Commission~

Dedicated to preventing and addressing the causes and consequences of hard drugs in our community…

drmumpower@aol.com ~ (828) 252-8390