ST. GEORGE — A mental health therapist with a career focused on working with substance abuse disorders has dedicated his upcoming marathon run to 26 members of the Southern Utah community who died from drug overdoses.
“The St. George Marathon is a big event,” therapist Brandon Christensen said. “Anytime you have a big event, I think it’s a great opportunity to bring awareness to an issue that affects people that maybe they’re not talking to other people in their neighborhoods about.”
Why does he believe it’s crucial to shine a light on drug overdose awareness?
“This is a super preventable cause of death,” he said. “Super preventable. So if people are talking about this and the available resources without stigma and shame, that’s worth using an event like this to make changes.”
So far, Christensen has run two marathons, the last one in 2019 when he thought he was done running marathons because of their brutality. He nearly qualified for the Boston Marathon, believing he had made the cut by 4 minutes. However, unbeknownst to him, the qualifying time for his age group had been moved back by 5 minutes, leaving him 48 seconds over the required time, a fact he recalls with a laugh.
Now that he’s moved into a new age category, he gains an extra 10 minutes on his qualifying time, giving him a better shot at qualifying for the 2026 Boston Marathon. His ideal race length typically falls between a 10K (6.2 miles) and a half marathon (13.1 miles), and he participates in two events each year. The thrill of competition keeps him motivated, fueling his passion for training and staying active. He told himself if he ever ran one last marathon, he would dedicate it to something that he’s passionate about – educating the community about addiction and recovery.
For the upcoming marathon Oct. 5, he’s planning to run the full 26.2 miles, dedicating each mile to someone who lost their life to an overdose. Collaborating with local recovery facilities, he’s gathering the names of those individuals.
Before this, he’ll commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31 by wearing purple, with each person’s name displayed on the back of his shirt. The front will carry a powerful message like “One Pill Can Kill.”
Christensen said he might honor more than 26 individuals, potentially dedicating two names to each mile. As he crosses the finish line, he plans to pay tribute by acknowledging each person’s name and releasing balloons in their memory.
Background
Christensen is a seasoned Mental Health Therapist at the Booth Wellness Center, where Utah Tech students receive mental and medical care. With 25 years of experience, he has dedicated 15 of those years to specializing in addiction treatment.
“With that particular part, you end up either celebrating people moving to great lives who have ended substance use, or you go to funerals,” he said. “There’s a very fine line between a successful person in recovery and a person who ends up not being alive.”
He said that many more resources are now available for those battling addiction, especially with opiates and heroin. This support helps people choose life and seek the help they need. He praised facilities like Family Healthcare and Hope Rising for their impactful work. When someone is arrested with opiates, heroin or fentanyl as part of their charges, these medical professionals step in, providing care within the jail to manage withdrawal symptoms and support medically-assisted sobriety.
At Utah Tech University, Christensen has worked with students directly affected by a loved one’s overdose. Addiction often creates family tension, and when a loved one dies, the last interaction can leave deep guilt, sometimes leading to suicidal thoughts. He helps students process this trauma so they can live fully in the present.
August is Overdose Awareness Month, and the Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness will commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31. The event takes place at Sandtown Park at 600 N Bluff Street in St. George and begins with breakfast at 10 a.m. to honor those who have died and support those still fighting.
The event will feature speakers, Narcan education, free shirts and food. See the USARA Facebook page for more information
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