A bereaved family is channeling their grief into a positive force to prevent similar tragedies from happening to others.
Communities across the country, including our own, are grappling with the issue of opioid-related deaths. It has become a significant problem that needs urgent attention.
According to the most recent statistics released by the Erie County Department of Health, a total of 245 individuals lost their lives to opioid overdoses in the county through July of this year.
According to the county, the majority of cases, around 80%, included cocaine as the primary drug. Unfortunately, it was frequently mixed with fentanyl causing even more dangerous outcomes.
We were contacted by a young woman from Clarence who had lost her cousin to an accidental overdose. Her hope was to bring attention to the issue and give a voice to families who have suffered the same tragedy.
During an interview with 7 News, Pheben Kassahun had a conversation with a woman who is determined to put an end to the growing problem of drug abuse within her community. The woman shared her insights on how she is taking steps to tackle the issue and combat the epidemic.
The day that Alexa Friedman and her family experienced will always be etched in their memory.
On that fateful day of May 6th, 2022, her beloved cousin, Beau Miller, passed away due to an accidental overdose. The loss of her cousin left a deep impact on her life.
Alexa Friedman shared a heart-wrenching story of her family’s tragic loss. Her younger brother, who was only 18 years old, went out with friends and unknowingly purchased a pill that he believed was Percocet. However, the pill turned out to be 100% fentanyl, which ultimately caused his untimely death. Alexa’s family had no idea that her brother was struggling with drug addiction until it was too late. Their devastating experience serves as a reminder of the dangers of drug use and the importance of seeking help when needed.
His family was unaware, but the Lockport resident had been grappling with addiction.
There was a time when he had to be revived repeatedly.
Sadly, he passed away during his freshman year at SUNY Geneseo.
According to Friedman, her aunt was never informed by the school about her nephew’s situation. He had stopped going to classes, and the school had dismissed him citing attendance issues, but they never provided any further explanation. It was only after his funeral that they discovered that this was not an isolated incident, but rather an ongoing problem that he had been facing.
Friedman aims to assist other families who are going through comparable situations like theirs, even though they cannot bring back their beloved Beau. It is their hope that this endeavor will aid in their healing process.
A short while back, she established “Accidental Angels,” which is now an LLC and has intentions of becoming a 501c nonprofit organization.
The main objective of the campaign is to educate teenagers and young adults about the potential risks associated with fentanyl and how they can provide aid to someone who is experiencing an overdose. The focus is to promote awareness and ensure that the audience is well-informed about the dangers of fentanyl. This campaign is designed to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to mitigate the risks associated with fentanyl.
Friedman expressed the intention to offer financial assistance for grief counseling to families and friends who have lost loved ones. The aim is to ease the burden of funeral expenses and create a community where families can come together to share their pain and support each other through the grieving process.
Beau’s Bill is something that she is currently focused on and has already made progress towards. She has established connections with a number of lawmakers in Western New York regarding this matter.
The need to ensure that colleges and universities send emergency contact forms to students is of utmost importance. This measure is crucial in times of emergency, as it helps the institutions get in touch with the students’ families or designated contacts. This step can potentially save lives and prevent any miscommunication that may arise during such critical situations. Therefore, it is imperative that colleges and universities take this responsibility seriously and ensure that emergency contact forms are sent home with their students.
According to Friedman, if his aunt had been aware of the emergency contact form, she would have filled it out right away. As a result, under Beau’s Bill, he proposes that all schools must distribute these forms along with other essential paperwork. However, there is a potential conflict with HIPAA regulations, so the form should include an option that states, “We wish to have an emergency contact form” with space for a signature, or “We would wish to not have an emergency contact form.”
If he were still alive, the Lockport native would be celebrating his 20th birthday on Sunday.
