Drug abuse has many collateral victims.

This was obvious during the seventh annual Out of the Darkness Into the Light festival held Saturday at the Owl Creek Reservoir in Tamaqua.

The festival focused on remembering, educating and presenting alternatives to drug addiction.

Many of the several hundred people who attended the five-hour event were family members mourning loved ones who died from drug abuse. There also were grandparents who were thrust into the position of raising their grandchildren because drugs resulted in the parents either losing custody or worse.

Former addicts who had managed to break the spell of addiction shared their stories and helped at the event.

For children, Out of the Darkness Into the Light offered games, prizes, refreshments and entertainment. Drug awareness initiatives were stressed for all attendees.

A Narcan training program was conducted by John “Bubba” Welfel of Tamaqua, representing New Roots Recovering Support Center. Welfel was assisted by George Cope of Tamaqua.

Welfel said Narcan is an overdose reversal medication that has the potential to save the life of an overdose victim. He explained how to detect if someone overdoses on drugs.

He showed how to apply Narcan to someone in need of it.

A few attendees shared that their lives had been saved by the medication.

After the presentation, samples of Narcan were given to anyone who completed the course.

Tammy Sienkiewicz of Tamaqua, started the event after her daughter died of a fentanyl overdose in 2016 at the age of 23.

A ribbon-shaped, purple cutout was on display with pictures of people who died from drug overdose. Sienkiewicz placed a photo of her daughter Alex on the board.

She said, “We don’t ever want a parent to be in our shoes. We don’t ever want a parent to bury their own children.”

Pat Farrell, a former addict now in long-term recovery, told how his turnaround started in a crisis unit, and evolved into a success story.

“He demonstrated the change that occurs when a person finally decides to get help,” Sienkiewicz said.

She said one of the most important things to remember is that “we have nothing to be ashamed about. Recovery is not about a bad person becoming good. It’s about good people becoming well.”

“Everybody is somebody’s someone,” said Martha Rich of Kempton, who said she is in long-term recovery.

Present at the Out of the Darkness event were members of the group “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.”

Laura Maines of Mount Bethel said, “Our grandchildren are the biggest casualties” of drug addiction.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren was founded in 2017 by Joy Thatcher of Tamaqua and evolved into a sister organization, GranderVoices Inc. The online group has over 3,000 members worldwide.

Several organizations were present offering supportive services.

Musical entertainment was provided by the band Drive Train.

A candle walk for overdose victims was held at the conclusion of the event.