NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas–Texas State Representative Stephanie Klick spoke to the public about the dangers of child fentanyl use during a town hall event on Friday, March 10, at the ILTexas North Richland Hills K-8 campus. 

Fentanyl is an synthetic opioid drug typically used for patients experiencing severe or chronic pain and is “50-100 times stronger than morphine,” according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). 

Klick, who serves as the Chair of the Texas House Committee on Public Health, emphasized the lethal effects of fentanyl during her speech.  

“The thing to remember is one pill can kill,” she said. She referenced the recent deaths of three teenagers from Carrollton, one of whom was in middle school, who overdosed on Fentanyl, as well as the dangers of laced counterfeit drugs. “It’s so so important for you to talk to your children to not take any medication, even if it looks real, from anybody else,” she said.

Other panelists who spoke at the event were North Richland Hills Police Chief Jimmy Perdue, Executive Director of Tarrant County IDEA Public Schools Dioniel Waters, and North Richland Hills Councilman Scott Turnage.

During the townhall, parents had the opportunity to ask the panel questions and share their concerns about the drug. Victoria Morales, a parent of an ILTexas sixth grader, attended the event with her family to learn more about drug safety and prevention methods for her kids.

“I just wanted to know what advice they give to the parents so I can share with others about this,” she said. “Especially my daughter's friends. I need them to be safe, too.” 

*For more information on fentanyl awareness and prevention for your child, please visit our website at iltexas.org/families/fentanyl-awareness