Relatives of Victims Say Awareness Key to Slowing Fentanyl Deaths

This is part of a reporting project drawing attention to the danger of fentanyl, use of Narcan to save lives and UT Tyler’s Narcan Access Initiative. See more coverage at The Patriot Talon on Instagram.

By ABIGAIL SMITH/Staff Writer 

Kole Hancock was a bright young man with a photographic memory and a sense of humor that lit up a room.

On Aug. 21, 2020, the Houston native became a tragic example of fentanyl’s deadly reach. He died, after unknowingly taking fentanyl, leaving his family shattered.

“I want people to know this (fentanyl deaths) isn’t just an addict problem,” Kole’s sister, Makaylee, said. “Fentanyl is everywhere. It’s in schools. It’s in vape shops. And it’s even in pills that people think are just for pain relief.”

As part of the advocacy group Travis’s Voice, Hancock and other relatives of victims travel across the region sounding the alarm about fentanyl.

“I tell my story so no other family has to endure this,” Hancock said. “Losing him to one pill — something he thought was Oxy — took away his future and our family’s chance to make memories with him. 

“It’s just not worth it.”

NARCAN ACCESS INITIATIVE

Fentanyl is killing about 300 people every day, including many teens and young adults, warn law enforcement and health officials. However, the nasal spray Narcan, can save lives if it is quickly given to someone overdosing on fentanyl or other opioids. 

The university is now providing Narcan, no questions asked, at three distributions sites:

– Muntz Library Front Desk
– University Welcome Center Desk
– W.T. Brookshire Hall, School of Pharmacy Student Affairs Office

To launch the Narcan Access Initiative, the university held an event Oct. 28 on Patriot Plaza during which information about fentanyl and nearly 200 spray bottles of Narcan were given out. 

TRAVIS’S STORY 

Along with Hancock, Janice Stahl spoke at the launch event. Stahl founded Travis’s Voice after the death of her son, Travis Lee Moy. 

Moy, a husband and father of two, died in 2021 when someone slipped fentanyl into his drink. Stahl shares his story as part of a video series by Texas Pictures Documentary available on YouTube.

 “He was supposed to live for his family, not to die for them,” Stahl says in the documentary.

Eager to go on a fishing trip with his cousin, Moy found himself waiting and getting drunk at a pub, after making several unanswered calls.

He eventually ended up at a hotel room with two other people – unaware he wouldn’t walk out alive.

“They put it (Narcan powder) in his drink and videotaped him dying,” Stahl said. “They took $600 from his phone, his wallet, his truck key, and all his new clothes, leaving him there to die.”

Authorities discovered traces of fentanyl in Travis’s drink.

“Don’t ever think it won’t happen to you,” warns Stahl, emphasizing her son did not know he was taking fentanyl or was in danger.

As part of her presentations to school and community groups, Stahl displays a flag with angel wings surrounding the letter “T.” The “T” stands for Travis and the wings represent the fallen “angels” of the fentanyl crisis.

SPREAD THE MESSAGE

Stahl and Hancock encouraged students at the launch event to not only pick up Narcan but to spread the word about fentanyl. 

“The only way we are going to stop it or slow it down is awareness,” Stahl said. “Talk to someone else who wasn’t here. Make a promise to talk to 10 people. Tell 10 people what happened here today.”

Hancock also said that being aware of fentanyl will help slow the rate of deaths.

“Fentanyl is killing Americans every five minutes, and it (number of deaths) is just growing,” she said. “We need people to spread awareness because this could touch every family in America.”

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The story on Instagram: UT Tyler’s Talon Student Media (@thepatriottalon) • Instagram photos and videos