Giving Tuesday: St. Cloud Non-Profit Fighting Prescription Pill Overdoses

ST. CLOUD - A St. Cloud non-profit has been a state and national leader in the fight against prescription pill overdoses. Dan Pearson started the "Justin Pearson Foundation" 10 years ago after his son died from an overdose on Christmas Day in 2006.

Since then they've worked on passing laws on the state and federal level, including "Justin's Law" in 2008.

The foundation was also instrumental in setting-up drug drop boxes in every police station in Stearns County, as well as in several departments in Benton, Pope and Douglas counties.

Pearson says their latest initiative is getting Narcan in the hands of law enforcement.

Literally given it can reverse an overdose death within seconds.  Within a minute that person can be standing up and having no effects.  Stearns County is the first, we donated the Narcan to all the squad cars and officers there.

Pearson says Narcan is also available in every city in the county, with the exception of St. Cloud and Waite Park - which they are still working on. He says they'll also be meeting later this month with the fire departments throughout the county to equip them with Narcan as well.

They have a big fundraising event coming up next Saturday, April 15th at Shooters Bar in St. Cloud, their celebrity bartender event runs from 7:00 until 8:00 p.m. Last year they raised over $4,000 at the event.  This year their goal is to raise $6,500, which would be enough money to buy 100 Narcan doses.