KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (courtesy of WVLT) – This weekend, parents trying to spread awareness about fentanyl joined together underneath a new billboard in Knoxville.
The billboard showcases the faces of people who lost their lives to fentanyl. They were children and loved ones who lost their lives not knowing what they were taking.
“We’re hoping that it stops the stigma, the shame for those that are struggling out there in addiction or mental illness, please seek help. Please, we are here for you, we will battle, put our nails to the ground to help you,” Sharon Kitts said.
Kitts lost her son to fentanyl. She, like many in attendance, lost a child, a loved one to the drug.
Now, they are all coming together and letting the community know this can affect anybody.
“My son should be here. His life mattered, it still matters, and along with all these other mothers and fathers, I just want to spread the awareness and the dangers,” Shelley Stauffenberg said.
Several of the parents, such as Stauffenberg, said they have seen their kids battle with mental illness and addiction, which led to self-medication.
They recognize the problem and want anybody going through these struggles to get help.
“We just honor our kids, we support those in drug addiction, we hope they get into recovery. My son would want that; he was a very bright star, he loved beyond measure,” Kitts said.
For some, like Stauffenberg and Kitts, they are trying to honor their children and help as many people as possible.
“I know he would want me to spread awareness about fentanyl, the dangers how quickly someone become addicted and one time you could die,” Stauffenberg said.
While this is aimed to help others, Kitts said this also helps those parents who are grieving their loss.
“It’s healing for me, and I’m able to not let my son die in vain. My son also suffered with mental illness and bipolar. That’s what led him to self-medicate,” Kitts said.
Metro Drug Coalition has resources to anybody needing help with a drug addiction, click here.
Story courtesy of our news partner WVLT
