RICHMOND, Va. — As overdose deaths associated with fentanyl continue to impact families both in Virginia and across the United States, state lawmakers have a slew of related bills to consider during this year’s General Assembly session.
Karleen Wolanin, the founder of Virginia Fentanyl and Substance Awareness, said fentanyl overdose can happen to anyone.
“All it takes is one time, one pill,” she said.
Wolanin spoke from experience as her daughter, now an adult, has dealt with mental illness and substance use issues since middle school.
“As my daughter got older, her substance got worse. And just this past Christmas night, she OD’d on fentanyl,” Wolanin said.
Her daughter survived and has been drug-free for the last month.
Wolanin founded Virginia Fentanyl and Substance Awareness last year to advocate and educate parents. This year, she’s asking state lawmakers to help educate in schools.
WTVR“The more that we keep talking about it, the more we keep showing like, ‘Hey, there’s a problem happening here.’ That is where we’re going to create change,” she said.