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Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
National Drug Take Back Day: Mother who lost son to drug addiction urges others to dispose of prescriptions
The Brief A local mother who lost her son to drug addiction joined law enforcement to encourage others to dispose of prescriptions safely during National Drug Take Back Day. She lost her son in 2019 after he took a pill that was laced with fentanyl, passing away at 19 years old. Law enforcement officials urge families to correctly dispose of unwanted medications at any drop-off location, including many police departments, sheriff's offices and hospitals. TAMPA, Fla. - A local mother who lost her teenage son following a battle with drug addiction joined law enforcement and doctors from the Tampa Bay area to encourage people to safely dispose of their prescription medications during National Drug Take Back Day. The backstory Megan LaDue's son, Wade Green, died in 2019 after taking what he thought was a painkiller. Megan said the pill had been laced with fentanyl and her son didn't survive, passing away at the age of 19. READ: Rick Harrison of 'Pawn Stars' talks about son's overdose death: 'There is nothing worse' "Wade was my beautiful son. He was so athletic. He was musically just so talented," LaDue said. "There is no greater pain than to lose your child and to lose a child that battled with addiction and...I, 19 years ago, would have said I would never be sitting here, and I don't want people to be naive because addiction can happen to anyone." Her life mission is to share her son's story as a warning to parents, especially during a news conference previewing National Drug Take Back Day. "Most kids, it starts getting a pill out of the parent's medicine cabinet. I know my son did that with a friend and so, if you can make it not accessible to them and protect them, or have them locked up properly and then dispose of them properly, it is so important," she said. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube What you can do Federal and local law enforcement representatives are urging families to take this opportunity to correctly dispose of unwanted medications on Saturday at any drop-off location, including many police departments, sheriff's offices and hospitals. What they're saying "DEA and our local law enforcement partners and health care partners, we'll be collecting tablets, capsules, patches, liquids and other forms of prescription medication at numerous locations throughout Florida," said Bill Stockman with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. "Bring your unused prescription drugs to our drug take-back day. You aren't just clearing out your medicine cabinets, you're saving lives," added Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez. Experts are also urging people to not wash their medications down the drain or toilet, because it can contribute to environmental issues. The Source The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Aaron Mesmer. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Parents of 4-year-old boy who accidentally shot, killed himself will not be charged: Davenport police
The Brief Charges won't be filed against the parents of a 4-year-old boy who accidentally shot and killed himself in Davenport. The Davenport police chief said the parents are devastated by the tragedy. The 4-year-old found the gun inside a car in the garage while the rest of his family was busy inside. DAVENPORT, Fla. - Davenport's Chief of Police said he will not be filing charges against the parents of a boy who found his father's gun in his car and who accidentally shot and killed himself. Chosen Morris, 4, lived with his parents, Robert and Quinta Morris, and two older siblings on Citrus Landing Boulevard where the shooting occurred Friday evening. Chief Steve Parker told FOX 13 he talked with Chosen's parents on Monday morning, who said they're just absolutely devastated by this tragedy, and they asked for privacy during this time. RELATED: 4-year-old boy dies after accidentally shooting himself in Davenport Friday: DPD Before the shooting, the family had been getting ready to go out for pizza, and they promised Chosen they would stop by a store to buy him a present, then they would play board games once they returned. While the rest of the family was busy inside the house, Chosen went to the garage. "We believe that Chosen was excited about going out that evening and got into the car to wait for the rest of the family and, in doing so, found the firearm underneath the seat and, while playing with it, it discharged and caused his fatal injuries," said Parker. Chosen was taken to a hospital in Orlando where he died of his injuries the following day. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Chief said Chosen's father simply forgot to remove the firearm and secure it in his bedroom after he got home from work on Thursday. "I think the most important thing to start with is knowing where your firearms are at all times," said Parker. "When you get out of the car, know, 'I've got it locked in my glovebox if I need it,' or 'I know it's in my gun safe in my bedroom.'" Secondly, make sure it's locked up, such as with a trigger lock which the department gives away for free, and the chief also suggests talking to your kids about the danger of guns, no matter how young they are, and taking them out for target practice, so they can learn how to safely handle firearms. "It impacts all of us when these things happen, especially when you are a parent or a grandparent, because that can be your child, that could be your grandchild," said Parker. HB 1087 was introduced last year that would have required owners to lock their firearms in a trunk or glove box when left inside an unoccupied car. If not, owners could face a second-degree misdemeanor. That law didn't go very far, but Chief Parker believes, if passed, it would help prevent unnecessary gun deaths. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
