Everyone is strongly cautioned against the catastrophic effects of opiate misuse by one tragic story. A distraught mother named Sherri Kent posted on Facebook about the untimely death of her 22-year-old son Michael, who overdosed on fentanyl, a prescription drug.
Estimates place fentanyl’s potency between 50 and 100 times that of morphine. Sherri underlined in her heartbreaking letter that her son was not an addict but rather had made a mistake that ultimately resulted in his death.
Sherri said that as Michael and his sister were running errands, they stumbled into an unknown man who gave them narcotics. This is when it all started. The next day, Michael met the man and bought the narcotics in spite of his sister’s cautions. Sadly, he took the narcotics in the restroom of a store and quickly overdosed.
Sherri remembers the terrifying moment her kid went into cardiac arrest and the ambulance arrived. Despite being taken to the hospital immediately, Michael was not able to be rescued.
Sherri is suffering from unfathomable loss. She disclosed that her saddest day ever was the day Michael passed away. It is alarming to see the surge in opioid-related deaths, which is partially due to the potent narcotic fentanyl. Fentanyl is thought to be 50–100 times more potent than morphine, and its use is growing.
Fentanyl overdoses have increased in Canada, where Michael was living. Sherri is sharing her story and the risks associated with drug use because of this epidemic. She wants everyone to know about the terrible truth that five to seven Canadian cities have daily fatalities from this illness.
Sherri’s Facebook post gained thousands of followers after going viral. The outpouring of support, prayers, and condolences she got gives her some solace in the knowledge that she has contributed to increasing awareness and possibly averting more overdoses.
The terrible loss Sherri and her family have experienced serves as a stark reminder of how urgently the opioid issue needs to be addressed. She wants to prevent other kids from becoming victims of this harmful addiction by sharing her son’s experience. Sherri was appreciative of the hospital’s kind offer to give her a spot on her son’s bed so she could lie with him and show off her pride.
We send Sherri and her family our sincere condolences on their tragic loss. We also applaud her bravery and express our gratitude for sharing her son’s story so bravely, as it has the potential to save lives by bringing attention to the risks associated with opioid usage.
