Local documentary shows how fentanyl affects everyone
The Kiwanis Club of Bradenton convened for a special gathering on June 4th at the Manatee Performing Arts Center's Stone Hall, where members and guests came together for a significant event. The gathering centered around the screening of a locally produced documentary highlighting the profound impact of the drug fentanyl on individuals and the broader community.
Accompanying the audience were 70 teenagers from the Palmetto Boys & Girls Club, who joined in to watch the documentary unfold on the large screen. The 27-minute film, introduced by Director, KT Curran of Wingspan Productions, shed light on the harrowing public health crisis caused by fentanyl poisoning. The documentary, titled "The Fentanyl Project," as featured on WEDU’s PBS Specials, vividly portrays how this deadly substance, often hidden in recreational drugs like Xanax, Adderall, and even children’s sweets, tragically claims lives across America, including in Manatee County.
The screening stirred deep emotions among many attendees. Following its conclusion, a panel discussion was held. Panelists included Matthew Craft and Brittany Yauslin Hansche, siblings of Nicolette Arecco, whose accidental exposure to fentanyl led to her untimely death. Also on the panel were Dr. Janet Taylor, an independent psychiatrist from Centerstone, Ally Bergmann, Executive Director of North River Prevention Partners, and Captain Araseli Stanley from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
The panel addressed questions first from the youth of the Boys & Girls Club and then from other audience members. Captain Stanley shared sobering statistics, revealing that the Manatee Sheriff’s Office alone handles an average of 60 overdoses each month, not accounting for cases handled by local police departments. The discussion underscored the critical importance of NARCAN, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, and emphasized the dangers of ingesting substances from unknown sources, as even a minuscule amount of fentanyl can be fatal.
The event served as a powerful reminder of the devastating impact of fentanyl and reinforced the community's commitment to awareness, prevention, and support for those affected by substance abuse. For those interested in viewing the documentary and learning more, the full story can be accessed through the link provided below.
https://metvweb.cablecast.tv/store-3/6225-Kiwanis-Fentanyl-Rev-2-v1/vod.mp4