Father shares heartbreaking story of son lost to fentanyl
October 24, 2024 | Judiciary: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation
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In a poignant testimony at a recent government meeting, a father shared the devastating impact of fentanyl on his family, recounting the tragic loss of his 19-year-old son, Logan. The father, a co-founder of the Love Logan Foundation, described how Logan died in his dorm room at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, after unknowingly ingesting a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid.
The father painted a vivid picture of the family's heartbreak, recalling the moment they discovered Logan's lifeless body beside a stuffed animal. He emphasized the profound loss felt by the family, stating, \"Our hopes and dreams for Logan and our family were shattered.\" He highlighted Logan's vibrant personality, his passions, and the struggles he faced with anxiety and depression, despite the family's efforts to seek help.
Fentanyl, he noted, has become the leading cause of death for individuals aged 18 to 45 in the United States, with approximately 150,000 deaths attributed to the substance between 2022 and 2023. The father urged for urgent action from elected officials, pointing out that in 2022 alone, an average of 22 teenagers per week succumbed to drug overdoses primarily driven by fentanyl.
He criticized the current administration for failing to address the crisis, linking the influx of fentanyl to unregulated borders and the operations of Mexican cartels. \"These cartels driven by greed have no regard for the lives lost from the poison they are pawning,\" he stated, calling for comprehensive strategies to combat the epidemic.
The father also stressed the need for increased awareness and education about fentanyl, noting that families like his have taken on the responsibility of advocacy through organizations like the Love Logan Foundation. He concluded with a heartfelt plea for leaders to prioritize the fight against fentanyl, emphasizing that every statistic represents a life lost and a family torn apart.
The testimony serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing fentanyl crisis and the urgent need for a coordinated response to protect families across the nation.
The father painted a vivid picture of the family's heartbreak, recalling the moment they discovered Logan's lifeless body beside a stuffed animal. He emphasized the profound loss felt by the family, stating, \"Our hopes and dreams for Logan and our family were shattered.\" He highlighted Logan's vibrant personality, his passions, and the struggles he faced with anxiety and depression, despite the family's efforts to seek help.
Fentanyl, he noted, has become the leading cause of death for individuals aged 18 to 45 in the United States, with approximately 150,000 deaths attributed to the substance between 2022 and 2023. The father urged for urgent action from elected officials, pointing out that in 2022 alone, an average of 22 teenagers per week succumbed to drug overdoses primarily driven by fentanyl.
He criticized the current administration for failing to address the crisis, linking the influx of fentanyl to unregulated borders and the operations of Mexican cartels. \"These cartels driven by greed have no regard for the lives lost from the poison they are pawning,\" he stated, calling for comprehensive strategies to combat the epidemic.
The father also stressed the need for increased awareness and education about fentanyl, noting that families like his have taken on the responsibility of advocacy through organizations like the Love Logan Foundation. He concluded with a heartfelt plea for leaders to prioritize the fight against fentanyl, emphasizing that every statistic represents a life lost and a family torn apart.
The testimony serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing fentanyl crisis and the urgent need for a coordinated response to protect families across the nation.
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