Northeast of Edmonton, residents of the Kehewin First Nation are rallying to save their community from addiction.

After attending too many funerals for young people, they’re taking action to combat drugs and alcohol.

“It’s a real pandemic here,” said Kokum Kathleen Dion.

The 53-year-old knows that pain personally. Her son Bradley Whitstone battled addiction for years.

“His first time he ever tried (crystal) meth he kept us up for three days. He was just young, he was what? 17?” she recalled.

Dion believes her son spiraled after his father’s death in 2022.

“It’s such a cheap, dirty drug and it’s so accessible. They’re all going for it,” explained Dion’s partner, Nick Daigle.

They say Bradley would tell his family he wasn’t using — but they knew otherwise.

“The dark circles aroun

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