BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Fentanyl is a growing concern for many Americans — especially for parents. Nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and families gathered at Louisiana State Capitol to raise awareness for drug overdose among youth.
“We are doing nothing to stop the poison that is flowing into this country!” said Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry.
Over 5,000 lives were taken so abruptly all from a drug overdose of fentanyl.
“This is a war. And too many people are sitting back. Certainly, too many of our leaders are not leading the fight. We need more warriors on the battlefield,” said Elbert Guillory, a former member of the Louisiana State Senate.
The founder of Millie Mattered Overdose & Addiction Advocacy, Lilly Harvey, brings awareness to the danger of fentanyl after learning what happened to her daughter.
Lillie Camille Harvey, also known as “Millie,” overdosed on fentanyl at City Park in Alexandria in 2017. She died of a drug overdose at 28 years old. Harvey said her daughter Millie was a woman full of love.
“We said goodbye to her on Valentine’s Day. A day of love for a girl of love. And that’s what she was full of love,” Harvey said.
She wants to shed light on her daughter’s story after learning about the number of young people who die from drug use.
“Awareness throughout the state and help educate and give out harm reduction so that people can be well aware of what’s going on with fentanyl. They can be prepared if they find somebody overdosing from fentanyl with harm reduction, and also to remember those who have overdosed,” Harvey said.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, one kilogram of fentanyl can kill 500,000 people (about half the population of Montana).
If you or someone you know is struggling with drug addiction, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
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