Parents aren’t taught how to mourn their children.
That’s because it goes against the natural order of things. We’re brought into this world expecting to die after our parents do.
Death is inevitable, we know this, but we can quell the fear of that inevitability with the expectation of who will outlive who.
So, what do you do when reality defies this expectation?
Turns out there’s a lot of mothers in Colorado trying to figure that one out.
Those are the stories you’ll hear in this new limited series, Lethal. Seven bereaved mothers, finding their footing and doing all they can to make sure their children aren’t lost to the past.
There’s a tragic throughline through each story you’ll hear - each mother lost their child to fentanyl poisoning.
Some of their kids were habitual users, others hardly ever did drugs. But all had their lives taken by one of the most potent drugs circulating around the country.
You’ll hear stories from:
- Sabrina Jankowski
- Elaine Lopez
- Adele Armijo
- Chanoa Maestas
- Diane Zyskowski
- Shelley Chandler
- And Tricia Otto
All of the stories you’ll hear are but a glimpse into the unimaginable terror and torment of losing a child.
The vulnerability and strength of these mothers are humbling.
We’ll begin with Sabrina Jankowski, and her late son Joey.
Listen:
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lethal ep 1 jackie nar Jackie Sedley
A trigger warning for this first episode of a new series right here on listener-supported KGNU. There’s discussion of drug use and abuse, overdoses and death.
A few fast facts on fentanyl:
- It’s a synthetic opioid, and MUCH more potent than naturally-occurring opioids like morphine or codeine.
- It’s 50 times stronger than heroin, and 100 times stronger than morphine.
- 2 milligrams of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose. That looks like 10-15 grains of table salt.
- It’s often unintentionally taken – sellers cut drugs like cocaine and Percocet with fentanyl to cut costs.
- Fentanyl often kills people that you wouldn’t “typically” consider at-risk for an opioid-related death.
- Now, possessing between one to four grams of a fentanyl compound is considered a Level 4 drug felony, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and up to two years of probation. Possessing 1 gram or less of fentanyl, or a fentanyl compound, is still a Level 1 drug misdemeanor.
- More facts on fentanyl
Many of the mothers you’ll hear from in this series want stricter penalties for those who possess and sell fentanyl. Others want to see the person or people who sold their kids fentanyl put behind bars. Regardless of what the individual path to healing looks like, each mother is searching for justice.
Resources:
Where to get Naloxone (commonly known as Narcan) in Colorado
Where to get fentanyl testing strips in Colorado:
Where to get support in Colorado for addiction:
Transcript coming soon.
