Expert Insights
I recall a candlelight vigil event held late last year at Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Florida. It was held by families who had lost their loved ones to drug addiction. The lawn of the high school was lit by beautiful candles held by the loved ones who were left behind, each one hoping that by telling their own heartbreaking stories of loss, it could save someone else. Mothers and fathers noted that they hoped their children’s deaths would serve as cautionary tales and help to educate local parents about the very real dangers of drugs – especially fentanyl. One mother said that her daughter relapsed one time, but that was all it took because the heroin she bought was laced with fentanyl. Tampa lawmakers say they have seen a large rise in overdoses and are working on new ways to help bring those numbers down.
~ Rita Milios
