LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — The Gwinnett County community is coming together and hoping to put an end to the fentanyl issue that is causing pain and tragedy to families across metro Atlanta.
“They are literally lacing everything with it. I’ve read stories of marijuana being laced. They are putting it in vapes. They are actually disguising the pills to look like candy to make it more appealing to children," Tasha Edwards said.
Edwards shared that she lost her 18-year-old daughter Breeanna Scott to fentanyl poisoning.
According to Edwards, Scott took half of a pill she got while attending a house party. That pill was laced with fentanyl, and she died.
The grieving mom hopes the community can learn from her daughter’s death.
“Just knowing that I can take this and turn it into something positive just kind of keeps me going (starts crying) and just helps me keep her alive," Edwards said.
Commission Jasper Watkins is very passionate about this topic.
He said Saturday's town hall is just the beginning of what he plans to do to combat the fentanyl crisis out here in Gwinnett County.
“I’m going to establish a dashboard of sorts where it’s a one stop shop where you can come and you can find everything there is to offer in Gwinnett County," said Watkins.
Watkins said he plans to make an online Fentanyl dashboard tool that everyone can use.
“You’ll be able to go the Gwinnett County website, and based on your child’s level of addiction, you’ll be able to find treatment, or treatment groups or modalities," said Watkins.
In an effort to reduce future fentanyl deaths, Watkins plans to hold two more town halls in the coming months.