By Ashley M. Casey

Staff Writer

The Baldwinsville Central School District partnered with the Baldwinsville Police Department, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office and other area agencies to educate about 900 ninth- and 10th-graders about the dangers of using heroin and other opioids such as Vicodin and OxyContin. The presentation was held May 19 at the Word of Life church.

“We’re a pretty safe community, but it doesn’t mean we’re immune,” said BPD Chief Michael Lefancheck.

Students heard statistics on opioid abuse and addiction, learned tips on how to help slow the epidemic and listened to the story of a self-described “broken mom” who lost her daughter to a deadly combination of heroin and fentanyl.

‘My life was shattered’

Deanna Axe of Camillus told students at a May 19 presentation on opioid abuse about her daughter, Morgan Brittany Axe, who overdosed on heroin laced with fentanyl in November 2015. Morgan was 24 years old and five and a half months pregnant. Here are some takeaways from Deanna Axe’s message:

“Heroin is an epidemic that is all around you, and I am begging you — begging you — to listen and remember everything that you will here today. My deepest wish, highest prayer is that you will learn today that drugs will do nothing but shatter your life. Please understand that this could happen to you. We can no longer tackle this problem with a simple ‘say no to drugs’ campaign.

“Heroin is here in Baldwinsville and in all the suburbs.

“Some people say addiction is a choice, some people say it is a disease. My experience has been that it’s both. The first time you use heroin or hydrocodone or an OxyContin to self-medicate or party, it’s a choice. The second time, the drug chooses you.

“You are an instant gratification generation. Drugs will give you a moment of numbness but a lifetime of hell and pain.”