The state Department of Health Services released a public health advisory in September regarding the rise in overdose deaths linked to fentanyl.
“You were to protect your son. You talked about you were his favorite person in the world, you should have protected him,” scolded Brown County Judge Tammy Jo Hock in November when she sentenced Tyana Putzlocker to ten years in prison in connection with the death of her son, Derrick.
A fentanyl overdose claimed the life of the 18-month-old.
“Look what happened as a result of your neglectful behavior,” Hock remarked, “you were the one who knew you were not supposed to have these children in your care.” It’s just so awful when combined with this kind of deception.
Cases such as these are not unusual, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. There have been twenty opioid-related deaths involving infants under the age of two since 2014.
The most recent loss was the daughter of Brooke Seal, who passed away in Outagamie County.
“Every death in this population is super alarming because it’s preventable. It’s normally due to some unfortunate circumstance within their living situation whether it be a parent or caregiver that is using substances in their presence,” DHS Policy Director Paul Krupski stated.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has 100 times the potency of morphine and 50 times the strength of heroin. An adult can die from two milligrams.
“A very small amount of, specifically fentanyl is very capable of causing an overdose and a death so it does not necessarily need to be a pill another illicit substance that has fentanyl present in it as well. It could be something much less than that,” Krupski stated.
Although the Putzlocker case indicates that the child consumed fentanyl while his parents were sleeping, it is still unknown how Brooke Seal’s two-year-old daughter came into contact with the lethal dosage of the drug.
To keep everyone in their homes safe, DHS officials are urging those who are battling addiction to get treatment.
Krupski continued, “What we’re just really trying to make sure that people are aware of is that there is help that is available. There’s help and there’s resources that individuals can find if they’re struggling with substance use and really encouraging folks to reach out, get those referrals and find whatever support they need for whatever stage that they’re at.”
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