Odessa boy, 13, dies of 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 close to the case said they believe someone either sold or gave a fentanyl laced pill to Kamerin Welch, who died on June 26 as a result of taking the pill in question. That same source said no arrests have been made at this time, because of an ongoing investigation. We’ve reached out to the City and to OPD for more information and will continue to provide updates as they become available.

Now, family and friends have rallied around the young boy’s family to try and raise money for funeral expenses; you’ll find a link to a Gofundme here .

“Our sweet, funny, loving son, brother, nephew, and cousin, Kamerin, passed suddenly…Kamerin was 13-years-ol and still had his whole life ahead of him. Our boy was so loved, and we appreciate all help given, even the prayers as we grieve,” the fundraiser said.

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

Illegal fentanyl is often pressed into fake pills or cut into street drugs, such as methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, often without the user knowing it; the outcome can be deadly. Drug addiction experts say that illicit drug manufacturers are cutting their product with fentanyl to produce a bigger “high”. Its potency and heroin-like effect makes illegal drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous

Fentanyl can cause difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, decreased heart rate, loss of consciousness, coma, and death. And once someone ingests the drug, knowingly or unknowingly, life-saving intervention often comes too late, as many teens and young adults experiment with drugs alone and out of sight of someone who can intervene.

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

• Encourage open and honest communication
• Explain what fentanyl is and why it is so dangerous
• Stress not to take any pills that were not prescribed to you from a doctor. No pill purchased on social media is safe and even if someone they know offers them a pill, the pill may not be safe
• Make sure they know fentanyl has been found in most illegal drugs
• Create an “exit plan” to help your child know what to do if they’re pressured 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 at the center of an ongoing investigation and none of the details involved in this case have been confirmed by OPD. We are working to learn more while also aiming to stress the dangers of fentanyl and raise awareness in the community that children have been harmed by the drug all across the Basin.

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