In early 2024, the Fentanyl Free Communities Foundation hosted a roundtable discussion titled “If I Only Would Have Known” with parents who tragically lost adult children to fentanyl. The discussion captured powerful firsthand experiences to raise awareness and warn families about the dangers of fentanyl, aiming to prevent more from joining the growing number of grieving parents nationwide. These are just a few of the thousands of stories of fentanyl poisoning victims across the United States.
The “If I Only Would Have Known” roundtable, led by Paul Ostrow, brings together a group of courageous parents who share deeply personal stories about the devastating loss of their children to fentanyl poisoning. These parents—Michele Hein, Kate Sloan, Jay Pernu, and Michelle Loberg—come forward with a singular mission: to raise awareness and prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy.
The video touches on the power of shared stories and the overwhelming pain of losing a child. In the conversation, Paul Ostrow opens by offering a space for these parents to reflect on that horrific moment when they realized their child was gone. The raw honesty shared serves as a wake-up call to the dangers of counterfeit pills and fentanyl, urging families, communities, and policymakers to take action.
Each parent reveals the vibrant life their child lived before falling victim to the fentanyl crisis. They discuss their child’s passions, strengths, and the joy they brought to the world while also sharing how addiction quietly entered their lives and became a heartbreaking struggle. The discussion delves into the complexity of addiction, the struggle for recovery, and the harsh reality of fentanyl’s lethal presence in everyday drugs.
The roundtable also addresses systemic failures—both within healthcare and legal systems—highlighting how difficult it can be to find justice and support during these crises. They emphasize the urgent need for education, stronger policies, and accessible mental health resources to combat this growing epidemic.
With this roundtable, the Fentanyl Free Communities Foundation aims to raise awareness about the lethal threat of fentanyl in counterfeit pills and urges parents, educators, and policymakers to get involved. By sharing these stories, they hope to protect others from facing similar loss, bringing hope to the fight against this devastating crisis.
Watch the full video to hear more about these parents’ journeys and their call for a community response to end fentanyl poisoning.
