Mark Crutchfield said his son Brandon was a typical teenager with a quick wit, a love for sports and acting and a knack for making others laugh — until he lost his life to a fentanyl overdose Nov. 4, 2022 at 20 years old.
Crutchfield, a Fairfax County resident and licensed counselor working in addiction treatment, said his son was raised on a strong anti-drug message, and he believed his son understood the risks of drug use. But, as the grieving father says, drugs do not discriminate.
Crutchfield’s story, like those of too many parents, is now part of a larger movement. As a member of Angel Army and Fentanyl Fathers, he joins other parents who have lost children in the opioid crisis. The groups aim to transform pain into preventative action by visiting schools, libraries and community centers to share their stories firsthand…