13-Year-Old Odessa Boy Dies From Fentanyl, Sources Say

ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – The Odessa Police Department is investigating the death of a 13-year-old boy after he reportedly died of fentanyl poisoning late last month.

A source familiar with the matter said they believe someone sold or gave a pill laced with fentanyl to Kamerin Welch, who died on June 26 after taking the pill. The same source said no arrests have been made at this time, due to an ongoing investigation. We have reached out to the City and Ottawa Police Service for more information and will continue to provide updates as they become available.

Today, the boy’s family and friends have come together to try to raise money for funeral expenses; you can find a link to a Gofundme here.

“Our son, brother, nephew and cousin, Kamerin, passed away suddenly, funny and sweet. Kamerin was 13 years old and had his whole life ahead of him. Our boy was so loved and we appreciate all the help, even the prayers during our grieving,” the fundraiser said.

Here’s what every parent and child needs to know about the dangerous drug that allegedly killed this young man:

Illegal fentanyl is often made into fake pills or mixed with street drugs, such as methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, often without the user’s knowledge; the result can be deadly. Addiction experts say illicit drug makers cut their product with fentanyl to produce a stronger “high.” Its potency and heroin-like effect make illegal drugs cheaper, more potent, more addictive and more dangerous.

Fentanyl can cause difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, slow heart rate, unconsciousness, coma, and death. And once a person has ingested the drug, knowingly or not, life-saving intervention often comes too late, as many teens and young adults experiment with the drug alone and out of sight of anyone who might intervene.

When discussing the dangers of fentanyl with your children, here are some tips from the DEA for parents and guardians:

• Encourage open and honest communication
• Explain what fentanyl is and why it is so dangerous
• Do not take pills that have not been prescribed by a doctor. No pill purchased on social media is safe and even if someone offers one, the pill may not be safe.
• Make sure they know that fentanyl has been found in most illegal drugs
• Create an “exit plan” to help your child know what to do if he or she is forced to take a pill or use drugs.
• For more tips on how to talk to your child about drugs, read Chapter 4 of Growing Up Drug-Free.

Again, this boy’s death is the focus of an ongoing investigation and none of the details involved in this case have been confirmed by police. We are working to learn more while also seeking to highlight the dangers of fentanyl and raise awareness of children who have been victimized by this drug throughout the basin.