Latest news with #AntonioHash
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Virginia first lady promotes fentanyl awareness in Roanoke
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Flags were flown at half-staff on Tuesday, April 29, in honor of National Fentanyl Awareness Day, an issue Virginia's First Lady, Suzanne Youngkin, holds close to her heart. 'We lost a young friend, a precious young friend from our community in Great Falls, Virginia. And at the time when we found out that he had passed from fentanyl poisoning, we really had no idea about the dangers of fentanyl. I felt very, very strongly that it was important to talk about an issue that oftentimes can be associated with a lot of shame and a lot of confusion.' She introduced her 'It Only Takes One' campaign in Roanoke last year. According to the Virginia Department of Health, in 2023, fifty-eight people died of a fentanyl overdose in the city of Roanoke, accounting for eighty percent of all drug overdoses. Law enforcement warns deadly drug cocktail circulating in Virginia and nation 'The rates in Roanoke are pretty shocking and staggering. And so, we knew it was an area where we wanted to help, and we know that it's a passion project for the leaders in Roanoke. So, it was the perfect place.' The city's sheriff's office started its own campaign called 'Be Bright Choose Right,' turning the focus to the schools. Sheriff Antonio Hash said he has a responsibility to protect the city's youngest residents, which is a major point in the creation of the campaign. 'With Fentanyl, it only takes one opportunity or one contact with fentanyl, and it can take out a whole school, it can take out a whole community, and we don't want that. So, this proactive measure is how we found that it is beneficial for our entire city.' The faces of the campaign are five children. Hash said each character represents the diversity of the city. Fatal overdose numbers down across Virginia, but not everywhere In videos and posters, the characters highlight the dangers of fentanyl, promoting 'if you see something- say something.' 'Just because it looks like it's safe on the playground, just because they look like you're safe in your community, that may not necessarily mean that it's not laced with something. So, take those precautionary measures before you consume something or put it in your mouth, or take a piece of candy that you found.' Fentanyl overdoses are down from 2022 to 2023, but First Lady Youngkin believes there's still more work to be done. 'It takes one pill to take a life, but it takes one caring adult or one conversation to save a life.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
National Drug Take Back day, how locales are helping the community
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – One of the easiest ways for drug abusers to find their fix is in the drug cabinets of family and friends. Forgotten or expired drugs can make their way into the hands of people they were not meant for. To prevent that, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is holding a National Drug Take Back on Saturday, April 26th. This event encourages everyone in the community to remove unneeded or expired medicine. The DEA says this is a way to keep these drugs out of the hands of those who might misuse them, especially minors. Kroger Health joins National Drug Take Back Day initiative 'Let's say the kids want to experiment with a narcotic. This takes that opportunity away from them. It gives you a safe way to get rid of the unwanted or unused drugs as well. And they just don't, they don't fall into the wrong hands or they don't get into children's hands just for curiosity's sake,' said Rick Garletts, the public information officer for the Virginia State Police 6th division. The Roanoke City Police Department will be at Melrose Plaza from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, collecting any medicine, no questions asked. The only thing that cannot be taken is any kind of needle or sharps. 'It gives us the ability to be able to make sure that seniors or family members in their community are made aware that getting those unused prescriptions or over the drug medications out of your house, especially if they expired and things like that, and putting them back into a safe space or environment where we can then turn them back in for you,' said Roanoke City Sheriff Antonio Hash. Lynchburg Krogers to host DEA's National Drug Take Back Day Along with the drug take-back, you can bring up to two bags of documents to the Melrose Plaza to shred to avoid anyone taking your information for scams. In last year's drug take-back day, the DEA reported that the Commonwealth received more than 17,000 lbs of drugs. 'It amazes me every year how much poundage of medication we do take back. It shows that people are paying attention. They're checking their expiration dates. They're getting rid of the things that they don't need. And, you know, even if it's just one bottle, that's one bottle that might not make it to the wrong hands,' said Derrick Botkins, the Director of Pharmacy Services at Lewis Gale. There will be multiple drug take-back events across the commonwealth on Saturday. You can click here, enter your zip code, and find the closest one to you. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
