By: Jeff Devine
A string of fentanyl-related incidents in the Wiregrass has heightened community concerns about the deadly drug’s reach, from the streets to local schools.
On Sept. 20, Dothan police discovered 41-year-old Joel William Nicholson unresponsive inside a vehicle that had been parked for more than half an hour at the intersection of West Powell and North Herring streets. Despite officers’ efforts to revive him, Nicholson was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed he died from fentanyl poisoning.
Investigators charged 39-year-old Vikthor Shean Roman with manslaughter-fentanyl after determining he supplied the drugs that led to Nicholson’s death. Roman was arrested Oct. 1 following a search of his Pine Hills Drive residence, where officers reported finding pills and paraphernalia. He remains in the Houston County Jail without bond.
Only days after Nicholson’s death, Dothan High School faced its own fentanyl scare. On Sept. 23, several students were hospitalized after being exposed to a suspected vape device during band and color guard practice. School officials praised the swift response of staff, nurses, and first responders, while notifying parents promptly.
The incident followed an earlier case reported by parent Beverlee Mathis, who said her son was hospitalized in September after unknowingly using a vape laced with fentanyl. Mathis said her son suffered severe side effects, including vomiting, hallucinations, night terrors, and memory loss, and she expressed frustration over what she described as a lack of action in the aftermath.
Together, the incidents have left many in the community worried about the spread of fentanyl and its potential to affect both adults and teenagers.
Naloxone is a life-saving medication that reverses the effects of opioids, including Fentanyl. First responders and doctors use it to reverse the dangerous effects of overdose or accidental exposure to opioids. The nasal spray is also available without a prescription to everyone in Alabama through a program run by the Jefferson County Health Department. It is also available for purchase at most drug stores.
As always, if you have questions about naloxone, its benefits, and use, you should speak with a healthcare provider.
Click the following link to visit the
Jefferson County Department of Health website. There, you can watch training videos on how to administer the naloxone nasal spray and fill out a form to have some mailed to you for free.
By: Jeff Devine
A string of fentanyl-related incidents in the Wiregrass has heightened community concerns about the deadly drug’s reach, from the streets to local schools.
On Sept. 20, Dothan police discovered 41-year-old Joel William Nicholson unresponsive inside a vehicle that had been parked for more than half an hour at the intersection of West Powell and North Herring streets. Despite officers’ efforts to revive him, Nicholson was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed he died from fentanyl poisoning.
Investigators charged 39-year-old Vikthor Shean Roman with manslaughter-fentanyl after determining he supplied the drugs that led to Nicholson’s death. Roman was arrested Oct. 1 following a search of his Pine Hills Drive residence, where officers reported finding pills and paraphernalia. He remains in the Houston County Jail without bond.
Only days after Nicholson’s death, Dothan High School faced its own fentanyl scare. On Sept. 23, several students were hospitalized after being exposed to a suspected vape device during band and color guard practice. School officials praised the swift response of staff, nurses, and first responders, while notifying parents promptly.
The incident followed an earlier case reported by parent Beverlee Mathis, who said her son was hospitalized in September after unknowingly using a vape laced with fentanyl. Mathis said her son suffered severe side effects, including vomiting, hallucinations, night terrors, and memory loss, and she expressed frustration over what she described as a lack of action in the aftermath.
Together, the incidents have left many in the community worried about the spread of fentanyl and its potential to affect both adults and teenagers.
Naloxone is a life-saving medication that reverses the effects of opioids, including Fentanyl. First responders and doctors use it to reverse the dangerous effects of overdose or accidental exposure to opioids. The nasal spray is also available without a prescription to everyone in Alabama through a program run by the Jefferson County Health Department. It is also available for purchase at most drug stores.
As always, if you have questions about naloxone, its benefits, and use, you should speak with a healthcare provider.
Click the following link to visit the
Jefferson County Department of Health website. There, you can watch training videos on how to administer the naloxone nasal spray and fill out a form to have some mailed to you for free.
