Family of fentanyl overdose victim, activists meet privately with Acting Superintendent of ISD Carrollton-Farmers

“I will fight as long as it takes. The life of my son was important to me,” said the mother of José Alberto Pérez, who collapsed in January after taking a pill.

CARROLTON, Texas. On Monday, Lilia Astudillo invited family and friends to her home in Carrollton, where they prayed the rosary 40 days after her son’s death from an overdose.

His son José Alberto Perez died at the end of January from fentanyl poisoning. He was found unconscious in his home.

Fentanyl is the reason Jose Alberto Pérez turns 14 forever. It was because of the fentanyl that his mother met alone with the acting superintendent of Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD on Monday.

“This time it happened to me. You don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow and this shouldn’t go on,” Astudillo said in Spanish.

Astudillo and activist Carlos Quintanilla are petitioning for a fund to help families with funeral expenses and an anonymous phone line to catch drug dealers and provide access to drug testing for parents who cannot afford it.

“Our community is in crisis because parents like Lilia Astudillo cannot help their son,” Quintanilla said.

Perez is one of three teenagers who died. Seven other students overdosed and survived.

These overdoses are likely related to the drug trade. Another overdose was reported in the bathroom at R. L. Turner High School on Friday.

An email was sent out to parents warning them of the news: “This is a challenge to the community. We must all work together to fight the fentanyl epidemic. We need everyone’s help if you see something “If you hear something, I have to say something. Together we can stop this epidemic.”

Astudillo and Quintanilla’s petition goes beyond the county. Quintanilla also hopes to appeal to district attorneys.

“Increase ties, increase criminal penalties and wage war on drug traffickers,” Quintanilla said.

“I will fight as long as it takes. The life of my son was important to me,” said Astudillo.

The Carrollton-Farmers ISD branch did not comment on Monday and said the meeting between the family and the acting superintendent was closed.

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