America is being poisoned by Fentanyl
“It’s other peoples’ problem” is a common response from many Americans when confronted with the over 100,000 drug deaths each year in the United States.
When individuals witness the scenes in Kensington, Philadelphia, as described last week, it’s tempting for some to dismiss it as someone else’s dilemma.
Many might think, “Who doesn’t know that heroin is dangerous? It’s no surprise your life will spiral if you start using tranq.”
Arguably, a different perspective is needed.
If the country wants to address the epidemic of lost lives, perhaps the realization should be, “Okay, it may not affect you directly, but it could impact someone you love or know.”
Various readers have shared how closely the drug crisis has touched their lives in recent weeks. It often strikes closer than expected.
This was the case with Julia Ghahramani.
At 26, the first-year lawyer was among three young professionals who died from fentanyl poisoning on a single night in New York.
During that time, COVID was still prevalent, leading to isolation and remote work.
That night, three professionals – Ross Mtangi, 40, from Credit Suisse, Amanda Scher, 36, a social worker, and Julia Ghahramani – all ordered cocaine from a New York dealer.
The dealer was Billy Ortega, a man in his early thirties, one of many who sell drugs in the city.
While some may argue that these professionals should have been more cautious, it’s important to acknowledge the reality.
Many know individuals who have experimented with cocaine at some point. However, few realize the potential deadly consequences of fentanyl mixed with cocaine.
That night, Ortega had laced the cocaine with fentanyl, a lethal combination. Even the smallest amount of fentanyl can be fatal to those unaccustomed to it.
Those who found the bodies described the impact as if they had been shot in the head – a sudden and severe trauma to their system.
All were alone, without anyone to revive them or administer Narcan, a life-saving medication now recommended for all New Yorkers.
Ortega was apprehended, convicted, and sentenced to prison.
Following the sentencing, I visited the Ghahramani family home in Greenwich, Connecticut.
The atmosphere of a grieving home is often the same – a silence, an absence, an irreparable sorrow.
As I spoke with Julia’s parents, their fresh grief was palpable.
They described the night they learned of their daughter’s death when she stopped responding to their messages.
Upon arriving at her apartment, they discovered the truth – fentanyl poisoning.
On that tragic night, the dealer Ortega had made a fatal decision.
He had knowingly mixed fentanyl with cocaine, a deadly combination. Despite knowing the risks, he callously distributed it.
Julia’s parents recalled the text messages that sealed their daughter’s fate.
Breaking down in sorrow, her father reiterated the callousness of the dealer’s actions.
This tragic loss led her parents to emphasize the difference between an overdose and poisoning when discussing their daughter’s death.
Her mother stressed the distinction, refusing to accept the term overdose for Julia’s death – “Somebody poisoned her.”
Her father added, “It’s poisoning. This is an important point for us.” Reflecting on the inadequate sentencing of the dealer, they expressed disappointment.
The man behind their daughter’s death received a 30-year sentence, but for Julia’s parents, it wasn’t sufficient.
As her father lamented, “This was a chance for the judge to send a strong message. [Ortega] was remorseless and never apologized.”
There is a vital distinction between individuals knowingly ingesting a lethal substance and ingesting an unknown lethal substance, but the outcome remains the same.
The grief felt by families in Philadelphia and elsewhere serves as a poignant reminder of the devastation caused by the synthetic opioid crisis.
Lily Ann shared her daily ritual of honoring Julia with a candle, a ritual that connects her with loved ones.
