“Fentanyl steals families:” New billboard shows some of hundreds of San Diegans lost to opioids – San Diego Union-Tribune

Caroline Walker felt numb for much of the first year after her daughter died from fentanyl. The pain marked the second.

But around April, the anniversary of Cassandra Walker’s death at age 38, her mother felt that this third year might be the time to “do more.”

Caroline Walker attended a rally in Lakeside on Saturday to raise awareness about the drug and highlight a new billboard featuring the faces of dozens of people, many of them local, who have been lost to opioids. The sign reads: “Hidden in so-called “recreational” drugs, fentanyl steals from families. »

“I wanted to bring parents together where they didn’t feel alone or ashamed,” Walker said in an interview.

The billboard was sponsored by Rachel’s Angels, an Ohio-based nonprofit created by the parents of Rachel DeMaio, a teenager who died several years ago. Walker said families who lost loved ones also helped pay for the sign, which is expected to stay up for a year.

A number of local and federal officials attended Saturday’s event, including San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson and Summer Stephan, the county attorney.

“We can’t just move on and get out of this,” Stephan said afterward. “Law enforcement is very important – we have tripled the number of prosecutions against drug dealers and fentanyl – but we really needed to empower and educate the community. »

Fentanyl overdoses are on the rise. While fewer than 100 people died countywide in 2018, that total rose to more than 800 two years ago. It doesn’t help that San Diego is a popular location for smuggling: Although U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reported finding fewer drugs overall in recent years, the amount of fentanyl seized has nearly doubled, making the region a main gateway for synthetics. opioid.

Overdose numbers for 2023 haven’t been released yet, but Stephan said they should finally show a decline.

The prosecutor warned residents against purchasing pharmaceuticals from unknown sellers, especially online, because fentanyl can be secretly mixed with all kinds of substances.

That’s what happened to Cassandra Walker, who had four children and loved camping in Yosemite. Her mother said several traumatic events caused Walker to drink alcohol and that the 38-year-old probably tried using Adderall when she unknowingly ingested opioids.

Caroline Walker said this type of loss is particularly isolating. Strangers can be quick to judge any death involving fentanyl, making it even more difficult for families to share what they are experiencing, she added.

Walker hopes to help erect a second billboard in the area this fall.