Mother who lost child to fentanyl poisoning creates innovative program to try to save lives
BELLEVUE, Wash. - It’s an epidemic affecting families all over the state, and officials say it’s only getting worse: fentanyl overdoses. Within the last two years, local DEA agents say fentanyl seizures have increased over 100%.
According to the Washington Department of Health, there was a steep increase in fentanyl related deaths in 2020.
"I miss everything about that boy," says Colleen Gregoire of Bellevue.
Greoire’s life changed forever six months ago after her 20-year-old son Bobby died from fentanyl poisoning.
RELATED: 'A disturbing trend': Whatcom County reports five fentanyl overdose deaths in two weeks
"It’s Russian roulette. You don’t who is going to die and who isn’t going to die."
Gregoire knows firsthand this can happen to any family. Her son was introduced to Percocets after getting them prescribed following a dental surgery.
"My goal is to have no parent, brother or sister go through the tragedy that we went through. It’s indescribable; it’s something you can’t explain."
Gregoire says many parents and schools likely don’t realize how common it is for kids to pop a pill at a party that is unknowingly laced.
"They have pill parties now. When we were kids we would go out and go to a kegger. These guys have pill parties."
Taking her tragedy and all the knowledge that’s come with it, Gregoire has designed a unique presentation that she put to the test for the first time last week.
Bobby Gregoire
In front of a group of high schoolers, Gregoire acted out a scenario she says is horrifyingly common.
"We took the Tic-Tacs, handed them out and they were all going to a party, and someone was going to offer them a pill, just one pill. So we passed out the tic tacs and the one who had the fruit flavored tic tacs, they survived. The ones who had the white tic tacs passed away."
Kids who were given a white tic tac and passed away were asked to lie down and were covered with a sheet. Their friends were encouraged to say goodbye to them.
RELATED: DEA: Mexican cartel smuggling illicit fentanyl is biggest threat to Washington state
"I know that I got to a lot of those kids and I know that they're talking about it and I know that they’re saving their little thing of Tic Tacs because I put my name and number on the back so if they’re afraid to go to their parents, if they're afraid to talk to anyone, to pick up the phone and call me."
As fentanyl deaths continue to rise nationally and locally, Gregoire says doing the presentation was incredibly healing.
"It’s the only thing I can do to make my son's life be worth something; he's going to be well-known now."
She hopes schools, counselors, parents, anyone, will reach out and ask her to speak to their children. She says she’d love nothing more.
"Instead of counting the days he's been gone I’m counting the lives we can save."
In King County alone, there’s been a 167% increase in fatal fentanyl overdoses in the last two years.
Health officials say if you’re with someone who you think could be overdosing, every second counts. Call 911 immediately.
Stay connected with Q13 News on all platforms:
DOWNLOAD: Q13 News and Weather Apps
WATCH: Q13 News Live
SUBSCRIBE: Q13 FOX on YouTube
FOLLOW: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram