Join the Journey holding wellness fair in Burnet in drug-abuse fight
Burnet resident Janet Christiansen lost her son, Caleb, in December 2011 to a prescription-drug overdose. She helped launched a program called Join the Journey, which educates schoolchildren, parents and the community about drug-abuse prevention. Program organizers for the first time will host a Wellness Fair on March 27 at the Burnet Middle School sixth-grade center. Courtesy photo
CONNIE SWINNEY • PICAYUNE STAFF
BURNET — When Janet Christiansen reflects on the loss of her son, Caleb, her first thought goes to how she can help other parents avoid the same tragedy.
“I felt like I was uneducated. I was naive. I was unaware. I want to keep this in front of people,” Christiansen said. “I want to help other families avoid the problem in the first place, find solutions and get help.”
Caleb Christiansen was just 21 years old when he died of an overdose in December 2011 from prescription methadone. The drugs were provided to Christiansen by another man, who was sentenced to prison for the crime.
The circumstances surrounding a young man with a bright future came as a surprise to the community. The incident triggered a community-wide drug-prevention effort and collaboration spearheaded by Caleb’s mother.
School officials and law enforcement combined efforts to launch the Join the Journey drug-free education program.
Coordinators expanded the program to include healthcare officials, businesses and recreation officials in organizing the Join the Journey Safe and Drug Free Wellness Fair on March 27.
The fair is 6-8 p.m. in the cafeteria of Burnet Middle School, 1201 N. Main St.
“What this really represents is the community and the school district coming together to really address the issue of drug use within our community,” said Burnet Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Keith McBurnett. “We wanted to expand to not only talk about drug use in our community but to talk about living a healthy lifestyle.”
Vendors include the American Cancer Society, the BCISD Parent Resource Center, Bluebonnet Trails Recovery, the Burnet Police Department, the City of Burnet Fire Rescue, the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, the Seton Care-A Van and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The fair will include health screenings, dental and eye-care education, sessions on nutrition and managing stress, prize giveaways and tools to empower youth to say safe and drug-free.
“Have good conversations with your children. This kind of education is critical,” Christiansen said. “Obviously, with my grief, I’m committed to doing this for the long haul because the grief is ongoing, so is my commitment to this cause. It honors Caleb.”
For more information, go to www.btxjourney.net or www.burnetcisd.net.
connie@thepicayune.com