The Spokane Alliance for Fentanyl Education (S.A.F.E.) is proud to announce a powerful and impactful event aimed at raising awareness about the pressing issue of fentanyl and its devastating consequences in our community. The Fall Festival is set to take place on October 7, 2023 at Spokane Pavilion in Spokane, WA. This event will not only showcase remarkable musical performances but will also shed light on the critical need to combat the fentanyl crisis through education, support, and advocacy.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine, has surged as a leading cause of overdose deaths in recent years. S.A.F.E., powered by the Rayce Rudeen Foundation and DEA’s Operation Engage, seek to turn the spotlight on this crisis by using the universal language of music to spread awareness, foster education, and inspire action.

The Fall Festival will feature an exceptional lineup of artists including country music superstar Maren Morris, Spokane-based singer-songwriter Sammy Eubanks, and other local musicians to be announced who are lending their voices to this vital cause. Attendees can expect an evening filled with family friendly music, yard games, and the opportunity to learn about all of Spokane’s resources related to addiction, prevention, treatment, recovery and support.

In addition to the musical performances, the event will offer resources and information about fentanyl education, addiction recovery, and available support services. Representatives from local organizations, medical professionals, and substance abuse programs, counselors and law enforcement will be present to engage with attendees and provide valuable insights.

Tickets for the S.A.F.E. Fall Festival cost $25.  Each ticket holder will receive a $10.00 food voucher.  Tickets are available for purchase at spokanepavilion.com, the proceeds of which will go towards funding the foundation's initiatives, including educational programs, outreach efforts to end the tragic stories in our community.

Join S.A.F.E. in the fight against fentanyl by attending the Fall Festival at Spokane Pavilion on October 7. Together, we can make a difference and unite to create a safer, more informed community for everyone.

For more information about the Spokane Alliance for Fentanyl Education and the S.A.F.E. Fall Festival, please visit https://raycerudeen.org/safe/ or contact [email protected].

About S.A.F.E.:

Spokane Alliance for Fentanyl Education is an alliance of community members that brings awareness and action against the fentanyl crisis in Eastern Washington which is powered by Operation Engage and Rayce Rudeen Foundation. We are a group of community members that saw the opioid epidemic get worse in the community we love and to the people we love. This prompted us to seek out evidenced-based resources and experts in the field. When we did, we found that Spokane was rich in resources, experts and empathy, however, a lot were siloed and each organization was working independently towards the same end goal. S.A.F.E. strives to connect diverse perspectives and expertise to address drug abuse more holistically in our community. This is done by the community and the community we serve.

About Operation Engage:

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Operation Engage initiative is a comprehensive community-level approach that bridges public health and public safety to address the drug epidemic through prevention strategies, facilitating conversations and collaboration with local partners. The Spokane DEA office identified fentanyl as its most challenging area within the region based on current drug threat data.  The Operation Engage initiative works with community partners to focus on  evidence-informed substance use prevention and community outreach efforts to make a true and measurable difference.

About the Rayce Rudeen Foundation:

The Rayce Rudeen Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to raising awareness about the stigma of addiction and the fentanyl crisis. The foundation was established in memory of Rayce Rudeen, who tragically lost his life to fentanyl overdose. For the Rayce Rudeen Foundation, and so many others with loved ones who struggle with addiction, this work is personal. We strive to address gaps in the systems of care for those who are struggling with drug misuse, collaborating with community leaders and organizations to make a sustainable impact in our communities.  We aspire to create a community in which everyone can access prevention, treatment, recovery, and family support resources—free from stigma. We will work tirelessly to empower our community to fight addiction.

Media Contact: [email protected]

Follow us on social media for updates and event details:

https://raycerudeen.org/safe/

www.dea.gov/engage/operation-engage-spokane

https://www.facebook.com/raycerudeen

https://twitter.com/RayceRudeenFdn

https://twitter.com/DEASpokane

#RayceRudeenFoundation