A community walk at Lake Eola on Saturday brought families, organizers, and law enforcement together to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and to prevent further deaths.

Fentanyl Epidemic

For Gretchin Murray, every day is about honoring her son, Gage Austin Taylor, who died on Sept. 26, 2022, after unknowingly ingesting illicit fentanyl. Murray’s advocacy also helped pass Gage’s Law, which requires Florida emergency departments to test for fentanyl in suspected overdose cases.

Officials emphasized that education is one of the most effective tools in combating the fentanyl epidemic. The “Walk for Lives” event at Lake Eola highlighted the dangers of fentanyl, with participants aiming to prevent more deaths.

According to Daniel Escobar, special agent in charge of the DEA Tampa Division, counterfeit pills are a significant driver of the fentanyl epidemic, particularly among people aged 18 to 45. “They are combining these fake pills, so if you think you’re taking another drug that didn’t come from a pharmacy, you might be ingesting fentanyl,” he said.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.