"Fentanyl is America's new 'F' word," says family who's raising awareness
THE COLONY (CBSNewsTexas.com) — As the fentanyl epidemic continues to take a toll on Texas communities, a family in The Colony has made it their mission to raise awareness about the deadly drug.
A large sign in their front yard reads: "Fentanyl is America's new 'F' word." It is meant to be a conversation starter.
"We started a petition to keep our banners, and there was so many responses," said Gail Heisler. "Mothers and fathers, thanking us for opening up the dialogue to their kids to not mess around with anything. It was unbelievable."
Heisler and her daughter, Brandy Moore, won the fight to display their banners.
"People are going to experiment," she said. "We need to let them know that you could die...you could literally die."
And this battle is a personal one for them.
"I didn't even know about fentanyl at all until November of '21," Brandy Moore shared. It has been almost two years since she found her 25-year-old son, Jordan Moore, dead in his room from fentanyl poisoning.
"I heard her pounding on the door, and it woke me up," Heisler said. "Then I heard, 'Bam!' She just kicked the door in and found him. Started screaming."
He had taken what he thought was Xanax; however, it was laced with fentanyl.
"I just remember screaming and calling 911 and just crying," Brandy Moore said. "I was in shock. Absolute shock."
Now, they feel his loss every day.
"He's never going to be able to be a father, like he really wanted to do," his mother said. "He wanted to be a husband; he wanted to be all those things, and now he can never do that...We need justice for Jordan."
Their family claims they know who dealt him the drugs and want to see that person held accountable. According to The Colony Police Department, the investigation into his death is still open and being worked.
A new Texas law increasing criminal penalties for selling and distributing fentanyl goes into effect on Sept. 1, and it may have some bearing on this case. It was one of several bills Governor Greg Abbott signed last month to address the fentanyl crisis.
"There's progress, but the progress was through the lives of young people," Heisler said. "And we know a lot of grieving parents."
It is a group they never wanted to be a part of, but it's given them a new sense of purpose.
"I want to try to help make sure there's not any more parents like us," Brandy Moore said. "I don't want kids to keep dying from this."
As they continue raising awareness and pushing for change, they know an impact will be made every time someone drives by their banner.