‘It happens, can happen to anybody’: Mothers fighting to raise awareness on dangers of fentanyl in Tampa
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla., (WFLA) — Mothers with a message that could save other families the pain of losing a loved one.
The next time you’re driving on “Dale Mabry” in South Tampa, you might notice a new billboard on Swann Avenue.
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Grieving parents put it there as a warning to other families about the dangers of fentanyl. This group of mothers said they are not just fighting for their own children, but everyone’s child.
“It happens, can happen to anybody, it happened to my daughter,” said Andrea Lee.
“If we can just save one person, then Zach didn’t die for nothing,” said Rhonda Willis.
“It doesn’t matter if you have an addiction or not, you just think it’s something else, you don’t deserve to die,” said Debra Flanigan.
Three mothers have lost their children due to fentanyl, but sadly, their stories are not uncommon.
“It’s such a crisis right now that we’re living in with the epidemic of this fentanyl and it’s not fair, these people didn’t ask to die,” Willis said.
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Amanda had a full-ride scholarship, Zachary was on his way to work, and Casey was taking care of her mother who was battling cancer.
All three of them, gone in an instant.
“It’s important that other parents don’t have to go through this, it’s important that other parents don’t feel this type of pain, because it is not normal and it’s not okay, it’s very hard,” Willis said.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said they are also making efforts to raise awareness. Their Opioid Overdose Investigations Unit is dedicated to combating illegal drug use and ensuring the community’s safety.
For these mothers, though, they said it is a battle that never ends.
“It’s very hard, some days it takes me a while to get up but through the grace of God I get up every day,” Flanigan said.
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“It almost in a way, gets worse, because then you have a whole year in front of you of firsts, or traditions, that she will never be a part of or participate in again,” Lee said.
The fentanyl epidemic is leaving them with a new purpose, to spread the word and stop the stigma.
Rachel’s Angels, The Fentanyl Awareness Coalition, and other groups will be out at the intersection on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. They will be handing out Narcan, educating the public, and helping provide resources to those in need.
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