Mother speaks out about son's overdose on Fentanyl

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A mother talks about the dangers of Fentanyl, after her son overdoses on the drug.  Her son died last March, and only used the drug one time.

Michelle Ivy said her son, Anthony Sudderth was a popular kid, who never gave his mother any problems.  He attended high school at both Southside and Carroll, and was planning to join the Navy.

Sudderth was 18 when he and his friends took the Fentanyl medication out of its patch, and placed it in his mouth.

"As soon as he took it he passed out," a crying Ivy said.  "His friends tried to wake him up, and he said, 'no, I just got to go to sleep for a minute,' and those were the last words my son said."

Ivy said Tuesday her son and his friends were able to purchase the drug from someone they knew for just $30.

With the recent pharmacy robberies taking place, the most recent one occurring Monday night , Ivy thought it was time to tell her son's story.

"I'm hearing about all the robberies," Ivy said.  "I personally think people are selling them or using them badly, because they are so addicted to them.  And for medications to be that addicting, it's not helping people.

"It's dangerous," Ivy said, "and I've had almost a year now without my son, and any parent - your life is forever changed.  No parent should have to bury their child over something senseless."

So far, Ivy believes the only good that has come from her son's death is the fact his organs have been donated.  Sudderth's heart, two kidneys, along with other organs have saved others lives.  She's now hoping more good will come from it.

"There needs to be more regulation on who is allowed to have these medications," Ivy said.

G. David Bojrab, MD, helps patients with pain control at Pain Management Associates.  He said more can be done to help prevent the robberies, and keep people from abusing the drugs.

"The way to do that is to have more safety factors in the pharmacy," said Doctor Bojrab.  "To have prudent writing of these medications, you have to really know the patient well.  You have to fill other, less strong, medications and you have to do your homework. 

Doctor Bojrab said his practice conducts urine drug screens, to make sure the medications are being taken and used properly.

Bojrab added the drug companies are finding ways to make it harder for patients, and others, to abuse the drugs.  He said the company that makes Opana is planning on making an "unbreakable" pill, which will be more difficult to crush.