Mission Event Aims to Tackle Fentanyl Crisis with Awareness, Education, and Narcan Training

Fentanyl,Crisis

The growing fentanyl crisis is taking center stage in South Texas, where leaders, families, and experts are uniting to raise awareness and offer practical solutions. An upcoming event on October 4th at the Mission Event Center will feature educational presentations, live demonstrations, and Narcan training to address the widespread issue of fentanyl poisoning in the region.

A Personal Fight Against Fentanyl

Sandra Bagwell, the Border Area Director for Texas Against Fentanyl, will be one of the key speakers at the event. Sandra, who lost her son Ryan Bagwell to fentanyl poisoning, is not just an advocate but a grieving mother seeking to educate the public on the dangers of this deadly drug.

“My son thought he was taking Percocet, but the pill was laced with fentanyl. It was enough to kill several people,” Bagwell shared, recounting the tragic experience that led her to join the fight against fentanyl.

Ryan’s love for fishing and golf was cut short when he unknowingly ingested a counterfeit pill purchased from a pharmacy in Mexico, which contained a lethal dose of fentanyl.

The Fentanyl Crisis at the Border

Lieutenant Chris Alvarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will also be a featured speaker at the event. He explains that the fentanyl crisis is fueled by drug trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border. Cartels are mass-producing counterfeit pills, often disguised as common painkillers, that are laced with fentanyl.

“In Texas alone, DPS troopers have seized over half a billion lethal doses of fentanyl in the last three and a half years. This drug is now the number one killer of people ages 18 to 45,” Alvarez stated.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, can be fatal with just two milligrams—an amount as small as the tip of a pencil. The event will feature demonstrations from DPS crime lab specialists, showing attendees how counterfeit pills compare to legitimate medications.

Raising Awareness and Offering Solutions

The event titled “It Ends Here” will bring together state, local, and federal experts alongside angel families, like the Bagwells, to share personal stories and offer insights into the ongoing fight against fentanyl. Attendees will hear from families affected by fentanyl, underscoring the devastating impact this crisis has on not only individuals but entire communities.

“We’ll have a panel of angel families sharing their stories. It’s important for the community to hear their testimonies because this crisis affects everyone—moms, dads, siblings, and friends,” Bagwell emphasized.

Narcan Training and Free Distribution

One of the most critical parts of the event will be Narcan training. Narcan (naloxone) is a life-saving nasal spray that can reverse the effects of a fentanyl overdose. The event’s final 30 minutes will be dedicated to teaching attendees how to use Narcan properly, led by experts from Evergy, one of the event’s partners.

“After the training, we’ll be distributing free Narcan to those in attendance. This medication could be the difference between life and death in an overdose situation,” Bagwell explained.

Narcan is now required in every school across Texas, a policy recently implemented by Governor Greg Abbott in response to the fentanyl crisis. The availability of Narcan in schools underscores the urgency of the problem and the state’s efforts to combat this deadly epidemic.

Event Details

The “It Ends Here” event will take place on October 4th at the Mission Event Center from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Those interested in learning more can visit the Texas Against Fentanyl website for additional details.

“This event will provide critical education on fentanyl’s dangers, prevention strategies, and practical tools like Narcan to help save lives,” Lieutenant Alvarez emphasized.

Conclusion

With fentanyl-related deaths on the rise, events like “It Ends Here” are more important than ever. Through education, personal stories, and access to life-saving tools like Narcan, South Texas hopes to combat this crisis and protect its communities from further tragedy. The Mission Event Center will serve as a platform for experts and families to come together, share their experiences, and arm the public with the knowledge they need to fight back against fentanyl poisoning.