Walk Information: Please join us at 10 am on Saturday, September, 10th at Jones Beach State Park, Ocean Pkwy W, Field 1, Wantagh, NY 11793.

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, the world’s annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind. The Vanderbilt family has been greatly impacted by the effects of the opioid crisis as one of our most beloved advisors, John Brower, lost his son to opiate addiction at the age of 25.

In 2015, Steve Distante, founder of VFG, along with John and his wife Jody established the Heroes Against Heroin Annual 5k Walk and the John Brower Jr. Foundation, in memory of John and Jody's  son John Jr., determined to turn his passing into a positive force for change. The John Brower Jr. Foundation organizes fundraising events to help raise awareness for young adults to overcome drug dependency and re-discover life before it is too late, helps create awareness about the opiate epidemic and provides help for those who do not have the means to help themselves.

Opiates are among the deadliest and most widely used and abused drugs in the United States. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 3.8 million Americans ages 12 and older reported trying opiates at least once during their lifetimes, representing 1.5% of the total U.S. population ages 12 and older. Opiates are not a “hobbyist” drug, tragically, youth curiosity often leads to experimentation, addiction, and death.