Fentanyl awareness event to return to Mankato

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - Mankato holds its annual Fentanyl Poisoning and Substance Overdose Awareness and Prevention event this Sunday. The day is in recognition of the national observance of the same day and is the fourth time Mankato will be hosting such an event.

Speakers will share their stories about fentanyl and substance abuse, and families can meet with law enforcement and each other to discuss the state of the opioid crisis within their community.

Demonstrations from local organizations will be available as well as free Narcan.

The event is organized by the family of Travis Gustavson, who died of fentanyl poisoning in 2021.

“There’s a whole heck of a lot of people out there in the same shoes that I am. That there’s other people suffering from substance use and that we’re not alone, and that it’s ok to speak out and not feel scared,” the event’s organizer and Travis’s mother Kimberly Lange said.

The event will be at Ray Erlandson Park from noon to 3 p.m. this Sunday.

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