Editor, Gazette-Journal:
In the heart of our community, beneath the surface of everyday life, lies a growing crisis that threatens the very fabric of our families and neighborhoods. The fentanyl epidemic silently infiltrates our homes, robbing our youth of their futures and leaving behind a trail of shattered families and grieving communities.
Gloucester, where generations have grown up side by side, now faces the devastating reality of young lives lost to the deadly allure of fentanyl. These are the same children who once played sports together, shared classrooms, and reveled in community events. But now, their laughter has been silenced, replaced by the mournful echoes of grief.
The crisis thrives in the shadows, fueled by stigma and silence. Parents endure the unbearable pain of losing their children too soon, yet fear judgment and ostracization from a society that misunderstands the dangers of recreational drugs. It’s imperative that parents of the children lost too soon speak out,...