First Lady of Virginia Suzanne Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares on Tuesday held an event for their new fentanyl awareness initiative, called It Only Takes One. They were joined by Roanoke City Mayor Sherman Lea and Afrodita and Sean Foster, who are the parents of a child who died after overdosing on fentanyl.
“Fentanyl is killing our young people and hurting families across the Commonwealth,” Suzanne Youngkin said during her speech at the event.
She added, “By bringing attention to the dangers of this illicit drug, while giving a voice to victims, we aspire to save lives. Ultimately, caring for one another is our higher calling.”
Alluding to the name of the new initiative, Miyares stressed the danger posed by just one illicit pill.
“Our teens and college-aged kids often don’t realize that one pill can kill unless a friend or loved one is impacted by fentanyl,” said Miyares.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) previously reported that as little as two milligrams of fentanyl are enough to cause a fatal overdose in the average adult and that 42 percent of individual fentanyl tablets contain this lethal amount. The agency also warned fentanyl and other high-risk drugs can be combined with other drugs, meaning those making the purchase may not know they are risking an overdose.
“Educating parents, teachers and friends about the threat is a simple but powerful way to fight fentanyl before it ever has a chance to harm our loved ones,” Miyares explained.
According to a press release from Suzanne Youngkin’s office, “Fentanyl can be mixed with marijuana or made to look like prescription pills such as Xanax, Adderall or Percocet. Unsuspecting young adults often turn to these pills to help themselves cope with stress or pain, unaware that they are not legitimate pharmaceuticals.”
It Only Takes One will consist of a “multi-media campaign” with “targeted messaging in the Roanoke area to spread awareness of the drug and provide a web-based resource platform for Virginians to access information on where to get help.”
The press release revealed the It Only Takes One initiative is part of the “Fentanyl Awareness Pilot Program at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in Roanoke” and “strives to warn parents and caregivers that ‘It only takes one.’ One bad decision, one counterfeit pill can cost a life.”
The governor’s press release reported, “An average of five Virginians die from fentanyl poisoning every day, becoming the leading cause of unnatural death in the Commonwealth.”
Glenn Youngkin indicated last November that Republicans may revive legislation previously thwarted by Democrats, which would allow fentanyl dealers to be charged with murder if their product leads to a death.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Jason Miyares” by First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin.
