Grant County, WA — Grant County Health District (GCHD) is proud to announce the launch of its new campaign, Everyone Has A Why. 

Everyone has a reason—whether struggle, loss, or pain—that leads to addiction. Everyone Has A Why breaks the silence by sharing personal stories, showing addiction is just one part of a person’s journey.

“The Everyone Has A Why campaign shares real stories from members of our community,” said Mariah Deleon, GCHD’s Harm Reduction Coordinator. “These stories highlight the power of human connection and the importance of meeting your loved ones and community members where they are. Sometimes, that can be as simple as carrying naloxone.”

Addressing the Opioid Crisis

In the United States, drug overdoses have dramatically increased over the past two decades. The number of people who died from an opioid overdose in 2022 was 10 times the number in 1999. This increase has also been felt in Grant County as overdose deaths have doubled from 2018 (15 deaths) to 2023 (36 deaths). 

Campaign Resources

The campaign’s tagline is ‘Make addiction a conversation, not a secret’. Through the use of real local stories, we urge those who are struggling to seek connection and support as well as encourage our community members, leaders, businesses, and non-profits to offer that support without judgment.

The campaign website features tools and resources such as:

• Big Talk: An online card game that sparks fun and meaningful conversations with family and friends.
• Interactive naloxone map: Find places in Grant County to get free naloxone
• Naloxone instructions: Step by step guide for administering naloxone 
• Opioid FAQs: Essential facts about opioids 
• And more. 

Campaign Details & How to Learn More

The campaign officially launched this week and will run through September 30, with an emphasized focus on International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31. Follow GCHD on social media for updates on this year’s event. 

For more information about Everyone Has A Why and to download the campaign materials, visit https://everyonehasawhy.org/.

Grant County Health District is committed to addressing the opioid crisis in our community. Let us stand together in solidarity to remember those we have lost, support those in need, and work towards a safer and healthier community. 

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