NC Attorney General Josh Stein and Debbie Dalton

By Dave Vieser.  Debbie Dalton, founder of the Cornelius-based Hunter Dalton HD Life Foundation, has received the Attorney General’s Dogwood Award which is given annually to honor North Carolinians who are dedicated to keeping people safe and healthy in their communities. She and her husband Randy lost their son Hunter to an accidental opioid overdose in 2016. Since then she has been dedicated to educating residents about the dangers of opioids.

HD Life Foundation provides education about the dangers of recreational drugs as well as resources to prevent drug usage and death from overdoses.

In making the presentation, NC Attorney General Josh Stein said all 16 recipients have been working to address issues that affect public and consumer safety, including sexual assault, opioids, criminal justice reform, and hurricane relief.

“They are doing vital work to protect and support their fellow North Carolinians and build stable, successful communities and we are grateful for their contributions to North Carolina,” Stein said.

He had special praise for Dalton. ““Debbie Dalton is truly an inspiration. Faced with one of the most horrible tragedies any of us can imagine, Debbie has spent countless hours trying to prevent other parents from experiencing loss. I am grateful for all of her work to prevent drug misuse and overdose among young people,” Stein said.

Along with the Police Chief Bence Hoyle and an emergency room doctor, Dalton spoke at a Cornelius Today Newsmakers Breakfast on the Opioid Crisis in August. She said students are not hearing about the dangers of opioids in school. “We need to broaden our education programs and we need to do it now,” she said.

A video of the award ceremony can be found at www.facebook.com/ncdoj.