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OKAY.[Fentanyl Awareness Day Proclamation Press Conference ]
GOOD AFTERNOON.THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.
WE'RE GONNA GET STARTED HERE SHORTLY, SO IF YOU DON'T MIND HAVING A SEAT, AND WE ARE ASKING ALL SPEAKERS ON THE AGENDA TO HAVE A SEAT TOWARDS THE FRONT, SO AS WE CALL YOU UP, IT'LL BE A QUICK TRANSITION.
CAN WE JUST STAND ON THE SIDE? ALL RIGHT.
ACTUALLY, SINCE WE DO HAVE A PACKED AGENDA, IN ORDER TO MOVE FASTER, WE'LL ASK SPEAKERS TO GO AHEAD AND LINE UP AT THE SIDE HERE.
WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES FOR EACH SPEAKER, SO DON'T WANNA SPEND TOO MUCH TIME IN TRANSITION.
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF DALLAS'S, RECOGNITION OF FENTANYL AWARENESS DAY.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND SAY THANK YOU TO SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES.
WE SEE OUT DEPUTY MAYOR PRO, TIM OMAR NARVAEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, GAY DONNELL WILLIS, AND WE HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER, TC BROADNAX, HERE WITH US TODAY.
AND MAYOR PRO, TIM, CAROLYN, KING ARNOLD.
I SEE RIGHT, RIGHT HERE AS WELL.
UM, WE ARE HERE TO HIGHLIGHT THE HARM THAT FENTANYL HAS BROUGHT UPON OUR COMMUNITIES IN AND IN THE WAYS THAT THE CITY AND THOSE AT HOME MAY HELP BRING AN END TO THIS EPIDEMIC.
FOR TOO LONG, THIS DANGEROUS DRUG HAS PLAGUED OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH ADDICTION, OVERDOSES, AND MANY DEATHS TOGETHER AS A CITY, WE WILL PUT AN END TO IT.
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, MY CO-CHAIR OF THE STRIKE FORCE, PAULA BLACKMAN AND I HAVE WORKED ON NON-PROFIT, WORKED WITH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ESTABLISH WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE OPIOID AND FENTANYL STRIKE FORCE.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BRING PARTNERS HERE TODAY IN RECOGNITION OF THE COLLECTIVE FIGHT AGAINST FENTANYL.
WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, NONE OF THESE EFFORTS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE STRIKEFORCE AND OUR COMMUNITY, WE WILL BRING AN END TO THE FENTANYL, ADDICTION, ABUSE, AND OVERDOSES ONCE AND FOR ALL.
I WANT TO NOW TURN IT OVER TO MY CO-CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER PAULA BLACKMAN, TO INTRODUCE THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY AND TO SHARE OUR SHARED PURPOSE.
UH, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN BASIL AND THANK YOU TODAY.
UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE JOINING US TODAY.
WE ARE HERE TO REMEMBER THOSE LOSS TO THE FENTANYL CRISIS AND WORK TOGETHER TO PREVENT MORE PEOPLE FROM BECOMING VICTIMS. LAST YEAR ALONE, 260 PEOPLE IN DALLAS COUNTY WERE KILLED BY FENTANYL POISONING.
EACH ONE LOST HIS NAME, A FAMILY, BUT THEY ALL HAVE A STORY.
WE ARE JOINED HERE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED US IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST FENTANYL AND THE FAMILIES WHO'VE LOST LOVED ONES TO THIS CRISIS.
THE BEST WE CAN DO IS HONOR THOSE FAMILIES AND TO PREVENT MORE DEATHS.
THAT IS WHY WE CREATED THE FENTANYL, UH, STRIKE FORCE.
AND THIS WORK CAN ONLY BE DONE WITH OUR PARTNERS, BOTH EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL.
WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE WITH US.
WE WILL HEAR FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEOPLE SHARING THEIR PERSPECTIVES ON THIS CRISIS.
YOU WILL HEAR FROM OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, YOU WILL HEAR FROM FAMILIES, ONE THAT I KNOW PERSONALLY THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS CRISIS.
AND YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT WAYS YOU, THE PUBLIC CAN HELP US HERE AT HOME.
NO ONE SHOULD GO THROUGH THIS FIGHT ALONE AND TOGETHER AS A CITY, WE WILL OVERCOME THIS CRISIS.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE PART OF THE STRIKEFORCE CHIEF, UH, KLEMPNER, WHO HAS A FEW REMARKS TO SPEAK TO SAY AT THIS TIME.
MY NAME'S SCOTT CLONER, AND I'M THE SECTION CHIEF OF EMS FOR DALLAS FIRE RESCUE.
SINCE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE LAUNCHED AN OVERDOSE RESPONSE TEAM THAT HAS REACHED OUT TO OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT HAVE OVERDOSED, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO EMERGENCY ROOMS BY D F R.
WITH OUR PARTNER RECOVERY RESOURCE, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH OUT AND HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED FROM THE FENTANYL CRISIS.
AND AS COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID, LAST YEAR, OVER 260 PEOPLE DIED IN DALLAS COUNTY FROM
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FENTANYL RELATED OVERDOSES.THIS EPIDEMIC DOES NOT DISIN DISTINGUISH BETWEEN AGE, SEX, RACE, OR INCOME.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE OVERDOSE ARE MORE THAN LIKELY TO HAVE ANOTHER.
AND FOR D F R SINCE 2020, WE HAVE SEEN 125% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE HAVE HAD TO ADMINISTER NARCAN TO AS A RESULT OF ACTIVATING 9 1 1.
SO AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE BECKY TINNEY WITH RESOURCE RECOVERY, OUR PARTNER IN THIS PROGRAM.
AS CHIEF KLEMPNER SAID, MY NAME IS BECKY TINNEY.
I'M DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS WITH RECOVERY RESOURCE COUNCIL.
WE ARE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NONPROFIT THAT HAS BEEN SERVING NORTH TEXAS FOR 76 YEARS.
I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT RECOVERY RESOURCE COUNCIL AND THE OVERDOSE RESPONSE TEAM WITH DALLAS FIRE AND RESCUE, AND HONORED TO BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE STRIKEFORCE HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THE OVERDOSE RESPONSE TEAM'S MISSION IS TO CONNECT WITH INDIVIDUALS 24 TO 72 HOURS AFTER SURVIVING AN OVERDOSE AND OFFER THEM A LIFELINE, A CONNECTION TO LIFE-SAVING RESOURCES, BE IT NARCAN RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN.
EVERY PERSON WE CONNECT WITH IS OFFERED NOT ONLY THE SERVICES OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAM, BUT ALSO THOSE OF A CERTIFIED PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST TRAINED IN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY.
WE'VE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE METROPLEX TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE RESOURCES THAT BEST FIT THEIR NEEDS AND INCREASE THEIR CHANCES OF BEING SUCCESSFUL IN FINDING A LONG-TERM SOLUTION.
WE'RE SO EXCITED THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS AND DALLAS FIRE AND RESCUE AGREED TO PARTNER WITH US ON THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM.
THOUGH IT'S BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING, THE LAUNCH OF THE PROGRAM IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME.
THE NARCAN AND OVERDOSE DATA THAT CHIEF KLEMPNER SHARED CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THE CRITICAL NEED FOR A SPECIALIZED RESPONSE LIKE THE ONE WE'VE CREATED.
BUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE'VE CONNECTED WITH IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THE PROGRAM DEMONSTRATES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF POTENTIAL TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THIS CRISIS.
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS JUST A GLIMPSE OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.
WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER ACROSS COMMUNITY SECTORS TO INCREASE NOT ONLY AWARENESS, BUT ALSO PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES AROUND THE ISSUE OF OVERDOSES AND SPECIFICALLY FENTANYL.
THE OVERDOSE RESPONSE TEAM IS THE LINK TO THOSE RESOURCES THAT CAN SAVE LIVES.
IN CLOSING MY COMMENTS, I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT IS STRUGGLING, DON'T WAIT UNTIL TRAGEDY HAPPENS.
WE WILL BE THERE TO ANSWER YOUR CALL AND TO HELP YOU IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE TODAY.
AND NEXT, PLEASE WELCOME MAJOR POLK WITH THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M THE MAJOR OVER THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION WITH THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO INVESTIGATING FENTANYL TRAFFICKING IN OUR CITY, ARRESTING TRAFFICKERS, AND TAKING THIS DEADLY DRUG OFF OF DALLAS'S STREETS.
WE WORK ACROSS THE REGION WITH OUR LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL.
THE FENTANYL THREAT IS TRULY UNPRECEDENTED.
IT'S POTENT, EXTREMELY SMALL DOSES, AND, AND THIS EPIDEMIC IS AFFECTING ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE OPIOID STRIKE FORCE BECAUSE THE FENTANYL THREAT CANNOT BE SOLVED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT ALONE.
THE WAY TO FIGHT FENTANYL IS THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND NONPROFITS.
THE STRIKE FORCE ALLOWS US TO COMBINE RESOURCES AND EFFORTS IN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO IMPROVE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION, ACCESS TO TREATMENT AND COLLECTION OF DATA, ALLOWING AN INTELLIGENT AND DATA DRIVEN PUBLIC HEALTH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE FIGHT AGAINST FENTANYL, THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS EXPANDING ITS EFFORTS WITH OUR LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS WORKING TOGETHER TO TARGET TRAFFICKING THAT KNOWS NO JURISDICTIONAL LINE.
THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO WORKING THROUGH THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION AND THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE AS MUCH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ON FENTANYL AND ITS DANGERS AS POSSIBLE.
THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS PROVIDED TRAININGS TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, BUSINESS GROUPS, CHURCHES, AND COMMUNITY
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GROUPS.THOUGH THESE PRESENTATION, THROUGH THESE PRESENTATIONS, WE HAVE REACHED SCHOOL, CHILDREN, FACULTY, BUSINESSES, AND CITIZENS, ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THE FENTANYL CRISIS.
WE'VE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE DALLAS I S D FIGHTS FENTANYL FORUM, AND WE'LL PARTICIPATE TONIGHT AT THE DALLAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, FENTANYL TOWN.
OUR SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION IS ALSO GROWING.
IN RESPONSE TO THIS CRISIS, WE HAVE ADDED MORE DETECTIVES RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING OVERDOSE EVENTS.
THE OVERDOSE INVESTIGATION SQUAD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ARREST AND PROSECUTION OF SEVERAL FENTANYL TRAFFICKERS, BRINGING CLOSURE TO THE FAMILIES OF FENTANYL VICTIMS AND PREVENTING THESE DEALERS FROM SELLING THIS POISON IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO DEPLOYED INITIAL DOSES OF NARCAN THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT TO PATROL SPECIALIZED UNITS SUCH AS S I D DETECTIVES AND SWAT.
THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING TO DEPLOY ADDITIONAL DOSES OF NARCAN EVENTUALLY TO ALL DALLAS POLICE OFFICERS.
IN CLOSING, THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL WORK TIRELESSLY TO INVESTIGATE FENTANYL BEING TRAFFICKED IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELVES ON THE DANGERS OF FENTANYL.
TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE DANGERS OF FENTANYL.
IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRAFFICKING OF FENTANYL IN OUR COMMUNITY, PLEASE CONTACT THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION AT 2 1 4 6 7 1 31 20, OR, OR SUBMIT A TIP THROUGH IWATCH DALLAS.
WHEN SUBMITTING A TIP, YOU CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
THE TIP AND THE INFORMATION GIVEN CAN HELP SAVE LIVES.
AND WITH THAT, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE DALLAS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN GARZO.
I'M THE DALLAS COUNTY CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
UH, MY OFFICE AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS IN DALLAS AND THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE COUNTY OF DALLAS AND THE CITY OF DALLAS TO ENSURE OUR RESPONSE TO THE FENTANYL AND OPIOID CRISIS REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY.
AND WE ARE FOCUSING OUR RESOURCES ON COMBATING THE EFFECT THESE DANGEROUS DRUGS HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE ISSUE, AND I'M PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS OF THE OPIOID STRIKE FORCE.
SINCE ITS CREATION FOR YEARS, I HAVE FOUGHT TO SEE OVERDOSE MAPPING IMPLEMENTED IN OUR COMMUNITIES HERE IN DALLAS COUNTY.
OVERDOSE MAPPING CAN HELP IDENTIFY SPIKES AND OVERDOSES, ALLOWING A MORE RAPID RESPONSE WITH NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE RESOURCES.
I TESTIFIED IN AUSTIN LAST MONTH ALONGSIDE THE STRIKE FORCE CO-CHAIRS TO ENCOURAGE THE PASSING OF IMPORTANT BILLS THAT WILL PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES FROM THIS FENTANYL CRISIS.
AND SEE TO IT THAT OVERDOSE MAPPING IS ADDED TO OUR TOOLKIT AND OUR BATTLE AGAINST FENTANYL.
UH, PLEASE CONTINUE TO SEEK OUT RESOURCES AND ADVOCATE FOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES BY CONTACTING YOUR LEGISLATURES.
STEPHANIE ALDI, D I SD, SUPERINTENDENT.
MY NAME IS STEPHANIE AL, AND I SERVE AS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
FIRST, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS, BLACKMAN AND BAAL, THE CITY, THE DA, THE MAYOR, UM, OUR CITY MANAGER, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, EMS, AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEGUN IN DALLAS I S D, PROVIDING EDUCATION TO ALL OF OUR, UM, STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND TEAM MEMBERS.
WE NEED OUR CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND THAT UNLIKE MANY OTHER ILLICIT SUBSTANCES, WE WARN THEM ABOUT FENTANYL BECAUSE IT CAN BE DEADLY IN THE TINIEST OF DOSES.
AS YOU JUST HEARD EARLIER, EVEN TRACE AMOUNTS OF FENTANYL LACED INTO OTHER SUBSTANCES CAN BE A LIFE SENTENCE.
FENTANYL TAKES THE LIVES OF MORE AMERICANS UNDER THE AGE OF 50 THAN ANY OTHER CAUSE OF DEATH.
I DON'T NEED TO REMIND ANYONE THAT THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF OUR CHILDREN, UM, BEING KEPT UP AT NIGHT, WHETHER THAT'S GUNS, MASS SHOOTINGS, ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE, RANDOM SHOOTINGS, GUNS, AVAILABILITY, MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, COVID, SUICIDE, SELF-HARM.
AND YET, FENTANYL HAS STILL TAKEN MORE LIVES THAN ALL OF THE ABOVE.
WE'VE LOST THE EQUIVALENT OF AN ENTIRE CITY THE SIZE OF SAN MARCOS.
WE'VE ALREADY LOST THE SAME NUMBER AS THE CITIZENS OF SAN MARCOS.
IN FACT, THE HEAD OF THE DEA SAID, AND I'M QUOTING HER, FENTANYL IS THE SINGLE DEADLIEST DUG DRUG THREAT OUR NATION HAS EVER ENCOUNTERED.
AND ACCORDING TO THE DEA, E A COMMISSIONER, MOST OF OUR FOLKS
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HAD NO IDEA THEY WERE TAKING FENTANYL.THEY PUT IT INTO OTHER DRUGS TO MAKE THEM MORE ADDICTIVE.
BECAUSE FENTANYL IS SO PO POTENT AND CHEAP TO MAKE, IT IS KILLING FOLKS THAT NEVER KNEW THEY WERE EVEN TAKING IT.
SO TO EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY OUR STUDENTS, OUR CHILDREN, I'M BEGGING YOU, UNLESS IT WAS GIVEN TO YOU BY A DOCTOR, A PHARMACIST, OR YOUR MAMA, DO NOT PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH.
DALLAS IS S D WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE NARCAN AVAILABLE AT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRAINED TO ADMINISTER THE CARTELS.
DON'T CARE IF WE DIE, IF OUR CHILDREN DIE.
SO PLEASE DON'T TAKE THESE PILLS.
AND NOW LET ME INTRODUCE RICARDO CORPUS WITH THE YOUTH COMMISSIONER.
THE DALLAS YOUTH COMMISSION IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING OUR FELLOW TEENS WHO MAY BE EXPOSED TO THE DANGERS OF FENTANYL.
WORKING WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS, WE WILL PROVIDE TEENS WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO PROTECT THEIR WELLBEING.
WE APPRECIATE THE WORK OF EVERYONE HERE TRYING TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR FELLOW PEERS.
FINALLY, I WILL ENSURE THAT THE YOUTH COMMISSION SHARES THE MESSAGE WHILE ALSO LEADING THE EFFORTS.
NOW, I WANNA INTRODUCE JU JUDY AND DE HEITZMAN FOR A PERSONAL STATEMENT ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF FENTANYL.
ALL RIGHT, THANK, UH, THANK YOU.
MY WIFE, AND I'LL SPEAK VERY BRIEFLY.
UM, IT'S BEEN ALMOST 18 MONTHS TO THIS DAY, UH, ON NOVEMBER 3RD THAT MY, UH, YEAH, THAT MY SON, UH, PASSED AWAY.
AND IT WAS ABOUT FOUR 30 IN THE MORNING.
I FOUND HIM ON THE SIDE OF THE BED, OR ON HIS SIDE OF THE BED, ON HIS SIDE, UNRESPONSIVE.
UH, THAT DAY HE WAS, HAD HAD A NEW JOB AT GM.
HE TOOK WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS XANAX AND HE'S GONE.
THE PARAMEDICS AND POLICE CAME AND WE COULDN'T REVIVE HIM.
UM, I HAD HEARD ABOUT FENTANYL, I'M A PHYSICIAN, BUT WHEN AN AUTOPSY WAS DONE, WE FOUND OUT THAT THAT WAS THE, THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF HIS DEATH.
YOU KNOW, I, I'VE WORKED IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
WE SEE EVERY TYPE OF DRUG, BUT YOU DON'T SEE YOUR CHILDREN DIE FROM THIS.
UM, FENTANYL, AS IT'S BEEN MENTIONED IN THE PAST, IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER.
IT'S THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF PEOPLE OVER THE AGE, UNDER THE AGE OF 40.
AND MOST IT AFFECTS EVERY GROUP.
UH, BUT IT'S MOSTLY YOUNG BOYS, UH, TEENAGERS AND IN THEIR TWENTIES AND TAKING THIS DRUG, IT'S NOT AN ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE LIKE MY SON DID NOT WANNA DIE.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING TO MOST OF THESE KIDS.
UM, MY SON MARTIN, WE GOT HIS PICTURE.
THERE IS, UH, PART OF THE FACES OF FENTANYL AT THE MUSEUM AT THE DEA RIGHT NOW, WHICH THEY HAVE THOUSANDS OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY.
UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CAUSES FOR THIS, WHICH WE ALL KNOW ABOUT.
WHERE THIS DRUGS, THESE, THE FENTANYL CRISIS, WHERE IS IT COMING FROM? CHINA, MEXICO, THE DISTRIBUTORS, THE ISSUES WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.
UM, AND THEN LIKEWISE, IT'S THE MENTAL HEALTH ADDICTION.
AND FRANKLY, SOMETIMES SO MANY OF THESE KIDS, THEY'RE JUST NOT AWARE AND THEY MAKE STUPID MISTAKES.
MY SON DID NOT NEED TO DIE, AND I DON'T WANT ANY OTHERS TO DIE.
I'M DOING THIS FOR MARTIN BECAUSE I HATE TO PUBLIC SPEAK.
SO YESTERDAY I WOKE UP TO YET ANOTHER TEXT FROM A FRIEND INFORMING ME THAT A YET ANOTHER DEATH IN OUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES DUE TO FENTANYL, A COLLEGE KID, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS.
WITHIN A MONTH OF MARTIN'S, MY SON MARTIN'S DEATH.
18 MONTHS AGO, I GOT CALLS AND TEXTS FROM TWO MORE PEOPLE INFORMING ME THAT TWO OF MARTIN'S FRIENDS COLLEGE HAD BEEN MURDERED BY FENTANYL.
IT'S BECOME ALMOST COMMONPLACE.
I'M OF, UH, DAR SAID, I'M A MEMBER OF SEVERAL FENTANYL MURDER ONLINE SUPPORT
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GROUPS.THE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING AND THE AGES ARE GUT-WRENCHING.
14, 15, 16 YEAR OLD KIDS DYING ALONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHILE THEIR PARENTS SLEPT IN THE NEXT ROOM.
I APPLAUD ALL OF THE EFFORTS THAT MY FRIEND PAULA AND JOHN, BOTH WHO KNEW MARTIN AND THEIR CONS, CONSTITUENTS ARE DOING TO SHED LIGHT ON THIS HEARTBREAKING PANDEMIC.
BUT I ALSO CHALLENGED THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS TO BE MORE PROACTIVE IN GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT.
HOLDING VOLUNTARY WEEKEND INFORMATION SEMINARS IS GREAT, BUT IT'S NOT HITTING THE BROADER TARGET.
MANDATORY ASSEMBLIES AND IN-CLASS TEACHING IS, THINK OF THE DAYS OF SCARED STRAIGHT, OR THE DAYS WHEN WE WOULD DO DRIVER'S ED AND THEY'D BRING A POORLY MAN, A BADLY MANGLED CAR INTO, OR WE'D GO SEE IT JUST TO SCARE THE HECK OUT OF US THAT WE'RE GONNA DRIVE BETTER.
THESE KIDS NEED AN IN YOUR FACE WARNING AND WAKE UP CALL.
THIS DOES NOT JUST HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE.
OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN FOREVER CHANGED BY THE LOSS OF OUR SON, MARTIN.
IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME VIDEOS AND PHOTOS ARE ALL WE HAVE LEFT OF MARTIN, UNLESS HE COMES TO US IN A DREAM.
I WAKE UP EVERY SINGLE MORNING PRAYING THAT THE SADNESS I'M FEELING IN MY GUT IS JUST PART OF A BAD DREAM.
I SHAKE MY HEAD, I OPEN MY EYES.
I'M GOING TO FEEL HOPELESSLY SAD EVERY DAY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
AND THEN I THINK TO MYSELF, WHAT IF WE HAD HAD FENTANYL TEST STRIPS IN OUR HOUSE? WOULD I BE STANDING HERE? UH, MARISSA AND COLIN, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR, FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
MY NAME IS MARISA GONZALEZ AND I'M THE PROUD MOTHER OF COLIN TEMPLE.
I WORK IN PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT TODAY I SPEAK TO YOU AS A PARENT OF A TEENAGER.
PARENTS ARE IN DENIAL THAT THIS COULD NEVER HAPPEN TO THEIR CHILD OR THEIR LOVED ONES.
I SAW THE DIFFERENCE IN HIS BEHAVIOR, BUT THOUGHT HE HAD SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.
THE DROWSINESS, THE TALKATIVENESS, MORE SO THAN USUAL, THE ISOLATION.
HE STAYED IN HIS ROOM FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, THE EXTREME IRRITABILITY, CONFUSION, NIGHT SWEATS, AND ULTIMATELY PROBLEMS BREATHING TO UNCONSCIOUSNESS.
WHEN I FOUND CALLING LATE ONE NIGHT IN HIS BEDROOM IN AUGUST, 2021, HE WAS SLUMPED OVER HIS DESK.
HE HAD TURNED A BLUISH PURPLE COLOR AND WAS UNRESPONSIVE.
I THOUGHT HE WAS DYING RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES AND MY ARMS. I CALLED 9 1 1 AND HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
AND ALTHOUGH COLIN WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WAKE UP FROM SEVERAL OVERDOSES, MANY DID NOT.
HE WAS SENT TO DETOX, FOLLOWED BY A 90 DAY INPATIENT RECOVERY CENTER THAT WAS OUTTA STATE, FOLLOWED BY THE TEEN RECOVERY PROGRAM AT CHILDREN'S HEALTH.
I KNOW PARENTS THAT HAVE TO BURY THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY LOST THEM TO FENTANYL OVERDOSES.
NO PARENT SHOULD EVER HAVE TO DO THAT.
I RECOMMEND THAT EVERY PARENT CARRY NARCAN ON ON THEM ALL THE TIME.
IT COULD SAVE YOUR LOVED ONE'S LIFE AND IT'S SO EASY TO USE.
IT'S BETTER TO HAVE THIS AND NOT NEED IT, THAN NEED IT AND NOT HAVE IT.
AND I'M GONNA PASS IT OVER TO COLIN NOW.
MY NAME'S COLIN, AND I'M A RECOVERING ADDICT.
UM, IT'S KIND OF BEWILDERING, UH, THE WAY THAT I COULD GET ON MY PHONE AND USING CERTAIN EMOJIS OR HASHTAGS.
I COULD GET DRUGS DELIVERED WITHIN FIVE TO 10 MINUTES.
UM, I CAN'T EVEN GO TO THE STORE AND BUY A PACK OF CIGARETTES.
HOW IS SOMETHING 50 TIMES STRONGER THAN MORPHINE AVAILABLE AND AVAILABLE TO SO MANY KIDS ACROSS NORTH TEXAS? UM, WHEN I WAS IN ACTIVE ADDICTION, ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS GETTING MY NEXT HIGH.
WITHOUT IT, MY BODY WOULD SWEAT, SHAKE.
I WAS NAUSEOUS AND HOT AND HONESTLY FELT LIKE I WOULD DIE IF I COULDN'T GET IT.
WHEN I'M IN THAT MINDSET, NOTHING STOPS YOU FROM GETTING IT.
UH, PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE POTENCY OF THIS DRUG AND THE EFFECTS THAT IT CAN HAVE ON YOUR BODY WHEN YOU'RE WITHOUT IT.
AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE KEEP GOING BACK TO IT.
AND TREATMENT IS SO IMPORTANT.
BUT THE AVAILABILITY FOR TREATMENT RIGHT
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NOW, ESPECIALLY IN NORTH TEXAS, IS TERRIBLE.UM, MY MOM WENT TO HER WITS END TO FIND ME A TREATMENT CENTER, AND IT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE ONLY BEDS THEY HAD AVAILABLE.
AND WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE MORE AVAILABILITY FOR TREATMENT IN NORTH TEXAS BECAUSE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE, AND IT'S JUST GOING TO GET WORSE.
IT'S SO CONCERNING BECAUSE YOUR FIRST HIT COULD BE YOUR LAST, AND PEOPLE ARE DYING AFTER THEY TRIED THIS DRUG ONCE.
THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO.
AND IT'S, IT'S VERY FRIGHTENING.
UM, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO RAISE AWARENESS AND EDUCATE PEOPLE ON PROFOUND DANGERS OF FENTANYL.
AND IF YOU NEED RESOURCES, THERE ARE FREE ONES AVAILABLE.
UH, NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS.
IF YOU NEED HELP TODAY, THOSE ARE AVAILABLE.
AND THERE ARE SUBSTANCE ABUSE HOTLINES THAT ARE 24 HOURS.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING OUT TODAY.
AND NOW WE'RE GONNA PASS IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE FOR TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE.
AND, UM, ANYONE HERE IS HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, UM, THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
BUT WE, BUT BEFORE WE GO, WE DO HAVE A REQUEST FROM EACH OF YOU TODAY.
UM, THANK, UH, PLEASE CALL YOUR STATE HOLD.
PLEASE CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND TELL THEM THAT HB 360 2, WHICH WOULD LEGALIZE FENTANYL TESTING STRIPS, COULD SAVE LIVES.
AND PLEASE URGE YOUR REPS TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES IN BATTLING ADDICTION.
BUT PLEASE KNOW IT WILL TAKE A COMMUNITY TO END THIS FENTANYL CRISIS.
BUT WITH A COMMUNITY AS CONNECTED AS DALLAS, WE WILL FIGHT THIS CRISIS AND MAKE CITY THE SAFEST PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
AND SO, PLEASE, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO CALL YOUR STATE LEGISLATURE LEGISLATURE AND URGE THEM FOR THE FENTANYL TESTING STRIPS.
IT CAN AND IT WILL SAVE LIVES.
SO WITH THAT, WE WILL OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS.
I WANNA THANK EACH OF THE SPEAKERS TODAY FOR COMING OUT.
I DO APPRECIATE JUDY, COLIN, MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU AND TO YOUR FAMILIES.
PLEASE CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT DOES MATTER IN MY STRIPE FORCE PARTNERS.
I MEAN, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I KNOW MARTIN, AND HE WAS MY SON'S FRIEND.
AND, UM, AND I KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS FOR YOU TO DO THIS, BUT I REMEMBER GETTING THAT TE I REMEMBER GETTING THE ALERT IN COUNSEL AND I IMMEDIATELY TEXT YOU.
UM, AND SO PLEASE KNOW THAT WE DO THIS IN HONOR OF YOUR SON, BUT IN HONOR OF COLIN WHO IS STRONG HERE TO TELL US HIS STORY IN YOUR FAMILY.
AND WE DON'T WANT MORE FAMILIES TO, TO EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU HAVE.
SO WITH THE STRIKE FORCE, I KNOW WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLKS HERE.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS.
WE'VE DONE A LOT IN FOUR MONTHS, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT MORE TO GO.
AND SO, UM, PLEASE COME AND PLEASE KEEP COMING AND PLEASE KEEP TALKING.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU.
UM, I'LL JUST ALSO REEMPHASIZE TO CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE A SESSION DOWN IN AUSTIN THAT'S GOING ON, AND WE HAVE SOME BILLS THAT ARE SITTING ON THEIR DESK, UH, THAT AREN'T BEING PRIORITIZED AS AN ANSWER.
AND IT'S AN ANSWER THAT COULD PREVENT SOME OF THE STORIES THAT YOU'VE HEARD.
UH, FROM TODAY, I DO WANT TO THANK OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY, JOHN CRUZO, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND A LOT OF THE, THIS LEGISLATION, UH, SOME SUCCESSFUL, SOME STILL PENDING.
UM, BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP, UH, TO GET THEM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE DOWN IN AUSTIN.
UH, WITH THAT, UH, THAT CONCLUDES TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE.