(NEXSTAR) — For many, illegal fentanyl is an unseen threat, disguised as prescription medication or mixed into illicit drugs. A mere two milligrams—equivalent to a few grains of sand—is enough to be fatal.
The fentanyl crisis has devastated families and communities across the country, claiming lives at an alarming rate. A Nexstar Media special investigative report, The Next Generation: Breaking Fentanyl’s Grip, takes an in-depth look at the rising dangers of fentanyl, the families it has affected, and the ongoing efforts to combat its spread.
Family members interviewed in the program, include NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion, Randy White, who describes the shock of losing his son-in-law to an opioid he had never heard of until it was too late.
“When they said Jesse died from fentanyl, I never heard of fentanyl,” said White. “I don’t live in a closet – I’m out around, but I didn’t even know what fentanyl was.”
White now helps his daughter Jordan raise his grandchildren and has also created a nonprofit called Coaches Versus Overdoses, a program that provides a game plan to tackle fentanyl and defeat overdoses.
In Portland, Oregon, fentanyl-related deaths have skyrocketed in recent years, with overdose fatalities rising by more than 500% . Law enforcement officers featured in the report explain how counterfeit pills, often made to look like legitimate prescriptions such as oxycodone or Adderall, contain deadly amounts of fentanyl.
The documentary highlights the devastating toll the crisis has taken on families, including that of a Portland, Oregon couple, Jon and Jennifer Epstein, whose son, Cal died after unknowingly ingesting fentanyl.
“We found him unresponsive in his bed,” said his father Jon. “Jennifer called 911 and I started CPR.”
Jon Epstein recalled what first responders told him at the time. “Those pills look like oxycodone, but they’re probably fentanyl. And if you’re the praying type of people, you should start praying.”
Their story is just one of many featured in the special, which also examines the changing tactics used by drug dealers who target teenagers through social media. Parents who have lost children to fentanyl share their mission to spread awareness, urging other families to have difficult but necessary conversations about drug use.
Lawmakers and educators are also taking action. In Oregon, schools are now required to include fentanyl awareness in their curriculum, while parents have pushed for national campaigns to educate young people on the dangers of counterfeit pills. The program also showcases efforts by local law enforcement and public health officials to stem the tide of fentanyl-related deaths.
Throughout Breaking Fentanyl’s Grip, families, educators, and first responders underscore the urgent need for awareness, education, and legislative action.
