Family, friends, and community members touched by Collin McLaren and his story gathered at the Yelm Skate Park on Sunday, Aug. 21 to both honor McLaren’s life, and spread awareness about the dangers of fentanyl.
McLaren, who was a senior at Yelm High School, died on May 1 as a result of fentanyl poisoning.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Over 150 people die each day due to fentanyl related deaths, stated the CDC
McLaren’s mother, Karisa Carpenter, hoped to teach others about the danger of fentanyl during the Skate for Collin event. Carpenter wants parents to learn about the severity of fentanyl poisoning and the risks of overdose. She hopes they will use that knowledge to teach their children to steer clear from drugs.
“I just want to get the dangers of fentanyl out into the community, as well as spreading fentanyl awareness,” Carpenter said during the event. “Fentanyl is being disguised in other pills, marijuana, and percocets. My son thought he was taking percocet, but it ended up being pure fentanyl.”
During an interview with the Nisqually Valley News leading up to the Skate for Collin event, Carpenter said her son gave into peer-pressure and began experimenting with Xanax and Perc-30’s.
Carpenter said she misses her son every day. She aims to turn her pain into a mission to teach others about the dangers of the fentanyl crisis.
“I want people to understand that they think they’re buying something that it isn’t, and they take it and die. It’s so important that kids understand the dangers of this,” Carpenter said. “We’re not going to stop (fentanyl) from coming over the border. We just aren’t, so we have to raise awareness.”
Carpenter said her family has received “so much love” from the community since her son unexpectedly died. She knows McLaren was well loved by his friends and many people in Yelm.
“I want to try and end the stigma. I don’t want to cry behind closed doors, and I want our community to know that if you or a loved one is affected by fentanyl, you’re not going to be judged,” Carpenter said. “Your child matters. I don’t care if they’re an addict or if they’ve tried it once, they matter. I want more people to come out and speak out about it.”
Carpenter said fentanyl has impacted and killed students in their teens and younger. It’s not a problem that solely affects high school-aged kids.
“Kids are supposed to learn from their mistakes, not die from them,” Carpenter said.
Carpenter plans to continue spreading awareness about fentanyl online through the Facebook page titled “Skate for Collin.” She hopes to make it an annual event that is hosted every summer.
Many of McLaren’s friends attended the event to honor his life. They included Tanner Gifford and Hunter Venable, who grew up playing baseball with McLaren.
“Collin touched so many of our lives and a lot of people have gathered for the Skate for Collin event in his honor,” Gifford said. “Everybody needs to know Collin’s story and what he went through, and everything that everyone else had to experience because of this.”
Gifford said McLaren is someone he will never forget. The 18-year-old was known for always making people laugh.
“It was always a good time when Collin was around and that’s how I feel he should be remembered,” Gifford said. “He was somebody who always created good vibes and made everyone feel like they were a part of something important.”
Venable said he’s thankful for his memories of McLaren, which he will carry for the rest of his life.
“Collin was always the happy kid growing up. He always was laughing and had a big smile on his face,” Venable said. “Once we got into high school, he always made sure everyone around him was happy and enjoying themselves. He cared about other people more than he cared about himself.”
Gifford and Venable said the Skate for Collin event was an important one for the community. Like Carpenter, they both hope more people will become aware of the dangers of fentanyl.
“Skate for Collin is such an important event because we all needed something to really commemorate Collin,” Gifford said. “While we’re honoring his life with the event, we’re also bringing attention to how quickly lives can change because of fentanyl. Collin was an awesome guy and he’ll always be important to me. I loved him when we met as kids and I’ll love him until we meet again.”
Venable is set on living his life to the fullest in honor of McLaren.
“People should remember Collin as somebody to live for. I’ll live my life until I get to see Collin again, and that’s what he’d want us to do,” Venable said. “You don’t want to move on either. You want to keep those memories around forever.”
According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s website, China was the primary source for fentanyl and “fentanyl-related substances” that were trafficked into the United States. The website states that “seizures of fentanyl sourced from China average at less than one kilogram in weight, and often test above 90 percent concentration of pure fentanyl.”
Until around 2019, packages containing fentanyl would come directly from China. Packages containing fentanyl were later rerouted and shipments now come from China to Mexico, and then across the border to the U.S. The DEA cautioned that “Mexican cartels will almost certainly have the greatest direct impact” on the American fentanyl market.
The CDC said if a person finds someone they believe is suffering from a suspected fentanyl overdose, they should immediately call 911 and administer naloxone as soon as possible. Signs of fentanyl poisoning include small and constricted “pinpoint pupils.” Other signs include slow, weak or no breathing, choking, a limp body, or clammy, cold or discolored skin.
