By Mary O’KEEFE

Last week, the Crescenta Valley Lions Club held the first in its speaker series at St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church’s – Sadler Hall. Its inaugural event had two parents sharing their most personal stories of loss as both had sons who died due to fentanyl overdoses.

Arick Gevorkian is a parent and teacher who is well-known in the community.

“Whenever we talk about overdose the first thing that goes through our minds is, ‘Oh, they [the victims] were abusers,’” Gevorkian said.

He said until the death of his son he was one of those parents who would have assumed that. But he learned that a single pill can make a difference; it doesn’t have to be an addiction.

He described what has been happening across America – the spread of fentanyl – as a community outrage.

Gevorkian’s son Tevan was a football player at La Cañada High School, an Eagle Scout, a phenomenal golfer and someone who put family first; however, there was this one time when one pill changed everything.

Gevorkian was at the Lions Club event to share information some parents might not want to hear; however, it was worth him working through the pain of losing his child in the hope to save others that drives him to share his story.

Gevorkian has shared his story at schools, churches and organizations in a presentation titled, “Chronicles of a Parent.” His talk is not for the weak; he does not pull any punches or keep anything hidden.

“I am exposing my family for the reason of saving lives,” he said.

Gevorkian teaches music and several of his students were in the audience.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Gevorkian’s son died in 2021. He said before his death he was not aware of fentanyl

“regardless of how much the news talked about it, regardless that 20,000 pills come across our border, or regardless of how many pills are made in garages in [Los Angeles].”

He spoke of how strong his family connections were and how his son was respectful, fun and proud. He remembered bringing him home from the hospital, seeing him with the family and his sister.

“And then their lives are gone,” he said. “One night, one mistake.”

Gevorkian took the audience on a journey of a parent in pain, of leaving the light on in his son’s room and not being able to start up his computer.

He said his son received a call from a friend who asked if he wanted to try a pill that would relax him. Gevorkian said taking a pill was not what his son would do but he met with the friend, who also took a pill. They drove to a party, left and then came back. His friend got out of the car, passed out and received help. His life was saved, but unknown to his friends, Tevan was still in the car.

Gevorkian was out of town at the time but his son always texted him when he returned home; however, at 2 a.m. he still hadn’t been heard from. Tevan was found in his car beyond help.

As Gevorkian ended his talk, he turned his back to the audience and then turned to face them again – holding a pair of sneakers. These were the shoes his son wore that day. He shared Tevan’s football jersey and other items before pulling out a white sheet and unfurling it.

This is what the coroner placed over my son’s body, he said.

He added to those in the audience that no one is immune to this happening to them. He said to the kids not to give in to peer pressure, reminding them that their lives affect so many around them.

“It took us six months to get the toxicology report. [Of that] blue pill [he took], 10 milligrams was laced with fentanyl, oxycodone, rat poison and synthetic coke [cocaine],” he said. “That’s why his heart stopped.”

“Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered. Fentanyl is everywhere, from large metropolitan areas to rural America – no community is safe from this poison. We must take every opportunity to spread the word to prevent fentanyl-related overdose death and poisonings from claiming scores of American lives every day,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milligram.

Next week on page 3, CVW will share the story of parent and activist Victoria Malone and the loss of her son to this drug and how her son’s friends inspire and strengthen her to help others.