At My Child's Life Matters, based in Illinois, our journey began with heartbreak and a mission born from unimaginable loss.

Our not-for-profit ministry was founded in response to the tragic death of my son, John M. Allen, on July 26, 2016. John made a choice that day—to get high, not to die. Believing he was using cocaine, he unknowingly consumed fentanyl.

The consequences were devastating: John lost his life. Four days later, on his 23rd birthday, we laid him to rest.

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In the months that followed, we sought answers. Through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and by piecing together John's timeline, we uncovered troubling inconsistencies in the investigation.

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We discovered that three other deaths were linked to the same drug dealer, yet justice seemed elusive. As a grieving mother, I faced a painful reality: my son was dismissed as just another statistic—an “addict” whose life was deemed less significant.

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This experience revealed a critical flaw in how these cases are handled. Despite a law in Illinois requiring all drug toxicity deaths to be investigated as criminal cases, most are hastily classified as accidental overdoses, closing the door to accountability.

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Fentanyl is not just a drug; it is a chemical weapon causing mass destruction, claiming an entire generation. This is not an overdose epidemic; it is fentanyl poisoning. The distinction matters because accountability matters. Drug dealers profit from poison, yet too often, they walk free while families are left with empty chairs at the dinner table.

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We stand in full support of law enforcement, yet we also demand more action. The fight against drug-induced homicides requires community engagement, legislative reform, and unwavering pressure on those responsible for distributing these deadly substances.

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At My Child's Life Matters, we are committed to advocating for justice. We will not rest until the voices of the silenced are heard and those responsible are held accountable. This is not just a mission—it is a movement to save lives and honor those we’ve lost.