SAN ANTONIO – By now, most of us have seen the dangers surrounding fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that’s linked to the deaths of thousands of Texans.
Through KSAT’s series, “Fighting Fentanyl,” we’ve covered how the drug affects the body, where Texans can get a medicine that reverses overdoses for free, and the new state laws aimed at helping families fight the drug.
On Wednesday, KSAT aired a special during our 6:30 half-hour on the KSAT 12 6 O’Clock News, “Fighting Fentanyl: It’s Everyone’s Problem.”
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The special gave viewers a look at the fentanyl problem at the border and from a law enforcement perspective. Viewers also heard from a woman who survived multiple fentanyl overdoses and a mother who lost her son to fentanyl poisoning.
Immediately following the special at 7 p.m., KSAT anchor Stephania Jimenez hosted a town hall event, where she spoke with a child psychiatrist, a high school senior, and a school district security director about the dangerous synthetic opioid and how parents can warn their children about it.
Guests for the town hall included:
- Dr. Giancarlo Ferruzzi, child and adolescent psychiatrist with UT Health San Antonio
- Alyssa Jones, Hays CISD high school senior, student advisory board member
- Jeri Skrocki, Hays CISD safety and security director
The town hall was streamed live on KSAT.com, KSAT app, and YouTube page. It was a conversation aimed at helping parents better understand the fentanyl problem so they can address it with their children. You can watch the special and the town hall in the video player above when it airs or on demand afterwards.