San Diego families march to raise awareness, honor loved ones lost to fentanyl

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl marched down Palm Avenue in Otay Mesa West on Saturday as part of the nationwide “Walk for Lives” event, aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of the powerful synthetic opioid.

Fentanyl is about 100 times stronger than morphine and is often mixed with illicit drugs, according to researchers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that fentanyl-related deaths have declined since early 2024, due in part to the widespread availability of Narcan, an over-the-counter nasal spray that can reverse overdoses if administered in time.

For many at the march, the issue is personal.

“It was like my soul left for a few days after I found out he passed,” said organizer Stephanie Carrasco, whose son Nathaniel died in 2020 after taking a counterfeit Percocet pill laced with fentanyl. He was 20 years old and a father of two.

“He should be here today, and it’s really hard,” Carrasco said. “As long as I can breathe, I’m going to keep educating.”

Mieke and Lucien Cerwin also attended the march in honor of their 31-year-old son who died of fentanyl poisoning in 2021 before Narcan became widely available.

“It’s not the only answer,” Lucien Cerwin said. “We need to continue to identify the sources of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, and from a legal standpoint, stop or reduce those sources.”

Advocates say events like the Walk for Lives are critical to spreading awareness about fentanyl’s deadly consequences and preventing other parents from experiencing similar loss.