A Focus on Fentanyl

September 25, 2023

This past Saturday, a special event brought the Plano community together at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Legacy Drive. The occasion? A Community Fentanyl Awareness event, organized by Kelsey Jehnke, a Plano West high school senior. This isn't just a community service project for Jehnke; it's deeply personal. She lost her friend and Girl Scout sister, Sienna Vaughn, to fentanyl poisoning and has since channeled her grief into action.

As a dedicated TXAF ambassador, Summer Vaughn regularly attends awareness events to honor her older sister's memory and contribute to efforts that aim to prevent others from enduring similar pain and loss.

The Girl Scout Mission in Action

Kelsey is utilizing her Girl Scout Gold Award project to confront the fentanyl crisis head-on. The Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, challenging young women to identify a problem in the community and develop a meaningful solution. Jehnke's initiative perfectly encapsulates the essence of this prestigious honor.

An Informed Community is a Safer Community

The event hosted a remarkable lineup of speakers from organizations such as the Plano PD Crime Prevention Unit, GraceToChange, Barnes Mobile CPR, and LifePath Systems. The audience was granted the opportunity to ask questions and educate themselves about the often fatal signs of overdose and available interventions like NARCAN and CPR.

Signs of Fentanyl Overdose:

Shallow or stopped breathing
Bluish-colored lips and fingernails
Unresponsiveness to external stimuli
Pinpoint pupils
Seizures
Confusion or strange behavior

A table stocked with complimentary NARCAN® nasal spray kits and #SiennaStory rubber wristbands, inviting attendees to equip themselves for crisis preparedness while showing support for victims.

Instructions for Administering NARCAN®:

Identify the signs of a fentanyl overdose in the individual.
Assemble the NARCAN nasal spray device.
Tilt the person's head back and provide support under the neck.
Gently insert the nozzle of the NARCAN device into one nostril.
Press the plunger to release the NARCAN.
Call 911 immediately for professional medical assistance.
If there's no improvement in 2-3 minutes, administer a second dose.

The Emotional Toll of the Epidemic

The event reached an emotional peak when parents who had lost their children to the fentanyl epidemic shared their stories. The parents of Sienna Vaughn also spoke, reminding everyone in the room about the devastating impact of this crisis. One father even recounted the unbearable pain of losing not just one, but two sons to fentanyl.

An emotional moment captured as Kelsey Jahnke is embraced by an Angel Mom at the church, both united by the devastating impact of Fentany. The atmosphere was charged with both love and tears, as stories were shared in hopes of healing.

A Community United for Change

Kelsey 's Community Fentanyl Awareness event was more than an educational seminar; it was a call to action. By sharing vital information and personal stories, she and her team of speakers galvanized a community, reminding us all that knowledge is the first step in prevention. As we left the hall, it was clear that everyone felt better equipped to face the fentanyl crisis, thanks in large part to a young woman turning her personal loss into a community's gain.

Awareness is the Antidote

“DEA lab testing reveals that six out of every ten fake pills with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose.”

– U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

Fake pills are taking real lives and families are left missing their loved ones terribly. Fentanyl has changed what we need to know about drugs and fake pills. For more information on how to protect your community and loved ones from the dangers of fentanyl, please visit www.txaf.org.