ISD in Dallas holds meeting on growing fentanyl use and deadly consequences
As fentanyl seeps into schools and neighborhoods, neighborhood leaders are working with law enforcement to warn parents. Tuesday night’s fight at WT White comes just a day after the teen overdosed in northeast Dallas. His family is convinced it was fentanyl.
Gioevana Rodriguez says she started chest compressions when her brother, 16-year-old Rodolfo Angel Rodriguez, stopped breathing. For several minutes she tried to bring him to his senses.
“I really did, I really did my best,” she said.
The Dallas Rescue Service confirmed that it responded to an overdose call Monday at Park Lane in northeast Dallas. Rodriguez never woke up again. While officials have not confirmed the cause of the overdose, Giovana believes she knows what took her brother’s life.
“Looks like it was fentanyl,” she said. “I do. Indeed.
It’s the kind of pain Dallas’ worried parents hope to avoid. Dallas ISD, along with trustee Edwin Flores, held a meeting at WT White High School. They teamed up with the Dallas DEA to discuss the effects of fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, equivalent to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose.
Maira Valdes was present at the meeting. She has a teenage son and said she wants to know what to look for.
“For my son, I’m worried that one day I’ll wake up and he won’t be around because of what’s going on,” Valdez said.
Often at social gatherings, outside organizations provide Narcan, a nasal spray known to save lives for suspected opioid overdose. While some parents object, Valdez said he would no doubt have preventative medications at home.
“If I am given something to save my child’s life, I will certainly accept it,” she said. “I’ll take it because my son’s safety is paramount.”
Special Agent Eduardo Chavez said parents face the possibility of drug use and experimentation in their homes.
“That’s everyone else’s problem until she’s in your house and you come face to face with her,” Chavez said.
He said parents tend to be convinced when they hear about other people’s experiences.
“Things like Narcan can save a life,” he said. “But you must have it. You must have it on hand and it should be relatively immediate.
Rodriguez is still dealing with the loss of her family, but she has a message for all who are willing to listen.
“Think twice about the consequences before they do anything so we can avoid the other family feeling what we’re feeling now,” she said.
Relatives of 16-year-old Rodolfo Rodriguez told us that they had just moved to North Texas from Brownsville and that he plans to attend ISD in Dallas.
Dallas police investigated the alleged overdose on Monday afternoon but did not release any further information, and the cause of death was not confirmed by the coroner.
The ISD meeting in Dallas comes about a week after the Carrollton teenager was revived with the help of Narcan after being found unconscious in the school bathroom.
Despite claims that some colors may be stronger than others, there is no indication in DEA lab testing that this is the case. The DEA has stated that fentanyl of any color, shape, or size should be considered extremely dangerous.
Without laboratory tests, it is impossible to know how concentrated fentanyl is in a tablet or powder. If you are exposed to fentanyl in any form, do not touch it and call 911 immediately.
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