The silent epidemic of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl is claiming thousands of young lives across America, and most parents have no idea until it's too late.
When Laura's 17-year-old son Zach purchased what he thought was a Percocet on Snapchat, she couldn't have known it would end his life. A straight-A student with college acceptance letters to multiple UC schools including UCLA, Zach had his entire future ahead of him. His story demolishes the stereotype of who fentanyl victims are - they're often not addicts but unwitting first-time users deceived by deadly counterfeits.
Host Lisa Carole, who recently lost her own son to fentanyl poisoning, creates a powerful space for Laura to share Zach's story - from his musical talents and academic achievements to the devastating moment she returned home to find paramedics and neighbors outside her house. The raw emotion of this mother's experience serves as an urgent warning for families everywhere: the drug paradigm has changed dramatically, and experimentation that might have been survivable in previous generations can now be instantly fatal.
Most disturbing is how this crisis remains largely invisible in mainstream conversation. Both mothers emphasize the critical need for public awareness campaigns, accurate media reporting that doesn't stigmatize victims with terms like "overdose," and school curricula specifically addressing counterfeit pills. As Laura poignantly notes, "If it can happen to Zach, it truly can happen to any kid who thinks they might just dabble or experiment one time. Well, that one time could be the last."
This episode isn't just heartbreaking - it's essential listening for anyone with children or young adults in their lives. Knowledge truly is power in this fight, and understanding the fatal facts of fentanyl could save someone you love. Subscribe to join this critical conversation and learn how you can help prevent these senseless tragedies in your community.
The Fatal Facts of Fentanyl podcast is dedicated to raising Awareness to the illicit FENTANYL crisis hitting the USA.
The goal is to SAVE LIVES and families from this travesty.
Awareness and Education are the Key.
Knowledge is Power!
