SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – Families in Spokane County are grappling with the devastating effects of fentanyl addiction as they prepare for an upcoming awareness event. The community is invited to learn more about the drug’s impact at the event on October 28 at the Fox Theater.
Darrel Startin spoke about losing his son to addiction, explaining the challenges of raising their four grandchildren. “He started having fun in high school,” Startin said, recalling his son’s battle with addiction. He shared the pain of the last three days, saying, “I knew something was going on with him.”
The event will feature the documentary “Fentanyl: Death Incorporated,” which addresses the global fentanyl crisis. Tickets can be obtained via QR code or the event’s website.
Traci Richmond lost her sister, Kristen Couture, to opioid usage on June 26, 2021. Kristen, a graduate of Eastern Washington University, was a competitive swimmer who became addicted to opioids after sports-related injuries. She left behind two children, aged 14 and 10.
“Growing up, we had such supportive and amazing parents,” Richmond said.
Reflecting on her sister’s struggle, Richmond said, “It wasn’t who I knew my sister to be.”
She emphasized that fentanyl does not discriminate, stating, “It doesn’t care who you are, where you came from, what you do, what political party you support; fentanyl will kill you.”
Both families agree that the drug in someone’s system alters their true selves.
The event aims to raise awareness and educate the community on the dangers of fentanyl.
Fentanyl: Death Incorporated | Official Trailer (2024) | A Hard-Hitting True Crime Documentary
