Memphis mother loses two daughters to fentanyl overdoses

In Memphis, Tennessee, a mother is left to care for her five grandchildren after losing both of her daughters to fentanyl overdoses within a span of three months. The first daughter, Kenia, struggled with addiction after becoming a mother at a young age, which led to her tragic death in January 2022. The mother, Diggs, noticed signs of drug use in her younger daughter, who also succumbed to an accidental overdose shortly after Kenia. This devastating loss highlights the growing opioid crisis in the U.S., where fentanyl has become a leading cause of fatal overdoses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 107,000 drug-related deaths in 2023, with fentanyl being identified as the deadliest substance. The situation is exacerbated by the influx of counterfeit prescription opioids, often linked to international drug trafficking organizations, which pose a significant threat to public health. As families like Diggs' face the aftermath of these tragedies, the urgent need for awareness and intervention in the opioid epidemic becomes increasingly clear.