Local Mother Takes Crusade to End Fentanyl Crisis to Washington DC

(KNSI) – A central Minnesota woman who lost her daughter to an accidental fentanyl overdose is taking her message to Washington, DC.

Julie’s daughter Shawna died in 2020 at the age of 37. She was on a pain management plan after suffering serious injuries in a car crash, but the pandemic prevented access to healthcare and Julie believes that’s why Shawna turned to other means of obtaining painkillers. Julie says Shawna took what she thought was a Percocet, but the pill was laced with a deadly amount of fentanyl.

Sadly, Julie is not alone, and she is joining other families who have lost a loved one to fentanyl poisoning in the third annual national Lost Voices of Fentanyl rally on Saturday, September 23rd.

Lost Voices of Fentanyl (LVOF) is an advocacy group committed to ending the deaths caused by the fentanyl crisis in America.

The rally is an all day event kicking off at the Washington Monument with speakers including at least one member of Congress, an author, and a retired DEA agent.

LVOF founder April Babcock whose son died of a fentanyl poisoning says the group will “raise our voices for those who can no longer speak for themselves. The pain of losing a child is indescribable, and we are determined to fight relentlessly until effective measures are taken to end this crisis.”

The woman accused of selling Shawna the pill has been charged with third degree murder. Her case is making its way through the courts.

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