The Lauren Joy Project
Help spread awareness and knowledge about Fentanyl.
About Fetanyl
Fentanyl is a strong and potent synthetic opioid. It is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S.A. There are two types of fentanyl, pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Both are considered synthetic opioids. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is given by doctors to treat severe chronic pain, especially after surgery and for later stages of cancer. However, most recent cases of fentanyl related overdose are linked to illegally made fentanyl, which is distributed through illegal drug markets for its heroin like effect. It is often added to other drugs because of it's extreme potency, which makes drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous to anyone who consumes it. Powdered fentanyl looks like many other drugs. It is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine and made into pressed pills that are made to look like other prescription opioids. Fentanyl-laced drugs are extremely dangerous, and many people may be unaware that their drugs are laced with fentanyl. Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths today. Even in small doses, it can be deadly. Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The lethal amount of fentanyl can be the size of your finger nail or sliver of a penny. It takes about 8 seconds for fentanyl to go through your entire body, stop your heart, and further kill you instantly. When a person who has overdosed due to fentanyl in the early stages, Narcan (Naloxone) can be administered through the nasal canal. Fentanyl is becoming a epidemic and awareness needs to be spread to stop or even just slow down this raging epidemic of the streets.
About Lauren Joy
My mother, Lauren Joy, suddenly passed away on January 4th, 2017 from an accidental fentanyl poisoning. Ever since I have been spreading awareness on behalf of her name to show how serious this drug is. Here is her story...
Lauren was born at Magee Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh PA on July 25th, 1982. She attended Poff Elementary as a young girl, she attended from kindergarten to fifth grade. After her time at Poff she transferred to Hampton Middle school. She attended HMS from sixth grade to eight grade. Lauren then went to Hampton High School to finish off her school education. She was an excellent student that learned fast and continuously had good grades. Laurens teachers all recognized her as a social butterfly and outgoing student. She made many friends as she went through school and never struggled with socializing with her peers.
Laurens next step was beauty school. She went to Bella Capelli Acemdemy in Pittsburgh PA. While at Bella Capelli she worked hard and put in the hours to earn her beautician license. She mainly studied hair dressing and excelled in this area of study. After her studies at Bella Capelli, Lauren started to work at Jimmy Ruggeris hair salon. She worked her entire life ever since she got out of beauty school.
Lauren worked at many hair salons during her life, including, Great Clips, Supercuts, and Big League Barber. She enjoyed what she did and worked everyday with passion and content in her heart for hair cutting, styling and coloring. Lauren would even bring her passion for cosmetology home and color her mothers hair and her daughters. Lauren loved her area of work and never failed to impress people with her skills.
Lauren had her first born (Avary Joy) on April 25, 2006. She instantly fell in love with her daughter and made her a priority above everything else. Lauren took maternity leave to have Avary and returned back to work once she was ready to. Lauren loved to do girly things with her daughter like coloring, playing with dolls and drawing with chalk. She loved being outside during the summer and warm months so a lot of Laurens time was spent in the backyard pool swimming and floating around. Lauren and Avary spent a lot of time together and enjoyed every second of that cherished time.
Lauren had her second born (Hunter Cole) on April 24, 2013. Everyone was so excited to meet Hunter and Avary couldn't wait to have a baby brother and be a big sister. Hunter was a very content baby and was taken care of by everyone. Lauren now had two children and loved them more than anything else. She really cherished spending time with her two children and doing activities with them during all months. Lauren also enjoyed cooking and baking for family and she was good at it. She was a wonderful mother and checked every box for a perfect mother.
Lauren struggled with addiction for a portion of her life but immediately got clean when she learned she had conceived her first and second baby. She had her mental health struggles but they never fogged up her mind to the point where she couldn't provide for her job and children. She was an amazing mother, daughter and friend to everyone who knew her. Laurens smile could light up a dark room anytime she stepped foot into it. Her positive attitude and outlook on life cheered everyone up when they spoke to her or were even just in her presence.
January 4th, 2017 was a devastating day for everyone. Her passing caused many emotions in everyone to arise and from that day on she has been deeply missed by anyone who knew her or had a connection with her. Sudden deaths cause so much grief because you were never expecting your loved one to pass. Grief is a long process that you never really heal from, it's a life life cycle that everyone goes through at some point. Laurens story will never be forgotten or lost in time. We will cherish her forever and speak on her name to spread awareness. Laurens family opens their arms for anyone who's struggling out there with addiction or grief. Long Live Lauren.
https://www.kingfuneralhome.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=1277189
Lauren was born at Magee Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh PA on July 25th, 1982. She attended Poff Elementary as a young girl, she attended from kindergarten to fifth grade. After her time at Poff she transferred to Hampton Middle school. She attended HMS from sixth grade to eight grade. Lauren then went to Hampton High School to finish off her school education. She was an excellent student that learned fast and continuously had good grades. Laurens teachers all recognized her as a social butterfly and outgoing student. She made many friends as she went through school and never struggled with socializing with her peers.
Laurens next step was beauty school. She went to Bella Capelli Acemdemy in Pittsburgh PA. While at Bella Capelli she worked hard and put in the hours to earn her beautician license. She mainly studied hair dressing and excelled in this area of study. After her studies at Bella Capelli, Lauren started to work at Jimmy Ruggeris hair salon. She worked her entire life ever since she got out of beauty school.
Lauren worked at many hair salons during her life, including, Great Clips, Supercuts, and Big League Barber. She enjoyed what she did and worked everyday with passion and content in her heart for hair cutting, styling and coloring. Lauren would even bring her passion for cosmetology home and color her mothers hair and her daughters. Lauren loved her area of work and never failed to impress people with her skills.
Lauren had her first born (Avary Joy) on April 25, 2006. She instantly fell in love with her daughter and made her a priority above everything else. Lauren took maternity leave to have Avary and returned back to work once she was ready to. Lauren loved to do girly things with her daughter like coloring, playing with dolls and drawing with chalk. She loved being outside during the summer and warm months so a lot of Laurens time was spent in the backyard pool swimming and floating around. Lauren and Avary spent a lot of time together and enjoyed every second of that cherished time.
Lauren had her second born (Hunter Cole) on April 24, 2013. Everyone was so excited to meet Hunter and Avary couldn't wait to have a baby brother and be a big sister. Hunter was a very content baby and was taken care of by everyone. Lauren now had two children and loved them more than anything else. She really cherished spending time with her two children and doing activities with them during all months. Lauren also enjoyed cooking and baking for family and she was good at it. She was a wonderful mother and checked every box for a perfect mother.
Lauren struggled with addiction for a portion of her life but immediately got clean when she learned she had conceived her first and second baby. She had her mental health struggles but they never fogged up her mind to the point where she couldn't provide for her job and children. She was an amazing mother, daughter and friend to everyone who knew her. Laurens smile could light up a dark room anytime she stepped foot into it. Her positive attitude and outlook on life cheered everyone up when they spoke to her or were even just in her presence.
January 4th, 2017 was a devastating day for everyone. Her passing caused many emotions in everyone to arise and from that day on she has been deeply missed by anyone who knew her or had a connection with her. Sudden deaths cause so much grief because you were never expecting your loved one to pass. Grief is a long process that you never really heal from, it's a life life cycle that everyone goes through at some point. Laurens story will never be forgotten or lost in time. We will cherish her forever and speak on her name to spread awareness. Laurens family opens their arms for anyone who's struggling out there with addiction or grief. Long Live Lauren.
https://www.kingfuneralhome.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=1277189
Lauren's legacy
Donate
Listed below are a few addiction, overdose, and fentanyl awareness organizations that accept donations. Any donation will help support local addicts and spreading the word about the fentanyl crisis. Anyone who reads this is helping gain knowledge and awareness about just one life that fentanyl took out of millions. Lauren's family appreciates each and every person who takes the time to learn about her and help in any way. Thank you.
https://www.pppgh.org
https://www.overdoselifeline.org
https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/street-fentanyl
https://www.pppgh.org
https://www.overdoselifeline.org
https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/street-fentanyl
Contact
If you or a loved one is struggling to get your / their story out there, please contact me and I will help your voice be heard.