THE PROJECT. THESE PEOPLE WERE FATHERS AND OUR MOTHERS, OUR BROTHERS AND OUR SISTERS. A VIDEO THAT TOOK A WHOLE COMMUNITY TO MAKE, A VIDEO MADE TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DIED FROM OVERDOSES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE’RE REALLY TRYING TO REDUCE THAT STIGMA AND GIVE PEOPLE AVENUES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INTO SOME KIND OF MEANINGFUL RECOVERY. THOUGHT UP BY THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, FILMED BY THE NEW HAMPSHIRE NATIONAL GUARD AND EDITED BY STUDENTS AT NEWFOUND REGIONAL HIGH. THIS VIDEO FEATURES A MAN STANDING BY HIS SON’S GRAVE. THAT’S BRIAN RICHARDSON SENIOR. HE LOST HIS SON TO AN OVERDOSE IN 2010 AND HOPES HIS MESSAGE GETS THROUGH TO GRANITE STATERS. I DON’T WANT OTHER FAMILIES TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT WHAT OUR FAMILY HAS GONE THROUGH. HIS SON MARK INJURED HIS BACK AT WORK AND WAS PRESCRIBED OPIOIDS TO EASE THE PAIN. BUT AFTER A YEAR OF ADDICTION PASSED AWAY AT 24. IT JUST GOT GREAT. KIDS ARE GREAT PEOPLE THAT JUST THEY GET STARTED INTO IT AND THEY CAN’T GET OUT. THE POPULATION HERE AT NEWFOUND REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IS AROUND 486 NOW. THAT’S THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT DIED IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE BACK IN 2022 BECAUSE OF AN OVERDOSE. NOW, WHEN THE STUDENTS HEARD ABOUT THIS VIDEO PROJECT, THEY WANTED TO GET INVOLVED RIGHT AWAY. AND TRY TO MAKE AN IMPACT. I WANTED TO HELP GET THE MESSAGE OUT, SAYING THAT WE NEED TO JUST WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM. WE CAN’T JUST BRUSH IT ASIDE. THOSE DEATHS ARE THOSE THAT DON’T NEED TO HAPPEN AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. NEWFOUND REGIONAL PRINCIPAL PAUL HAURY SAYS HE WASN’T SURPRISED ABOUT HOW MANY OF HIS STUDENTS WANTED TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE VIDEO. I’VE HAD TWO KIDS OVER THE YEARS AND MY NEAR 20 YEARS IN EDUCATION WHO HAVE LOST PARENTS DUE TO THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC, WHETHER IT WAS T