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Brevard mothers speak out about drug overdoses and fentanyl deaths

“He gave us a life sentence,” says a mother from Cape Canaveral about her son's fentanyl death

Nancy Shine's only child had just turned 26. And it was just one pill.

But one night, Keaton Alan Shine decided to take fentanyl.

It cost Keaton his life – and changed his parents’ lives forever.

“He was my son and my only child,” said Nancy Shine of Cape Canaveral. “It's heartbreaking. I'll never be a grandmother … I have to live the rest of my life (with this loss). We have to live the rest of our lives without our son. I don't want any other parent to have to go through this.”

This is one of the reasons for the fourth annual Mom Anon Overdose Awareness Day, which takes place on Saturday.

According to the Florida Department of Health, there were 157 fatal overdoses in Brevard in 2022; there were 7,769 overdose deaths across the state of Florida.

“I don’t want any other parent to have to go through this.”

Mom Anon's Overdose Awareness Day is held at Christ Lutheran Church, 7511 A. Atlantic Ave., in Cape Canaveral. The group exists to help:

  • Prevent drug overdoses and poisoning.
  • Remember those who have been lost; and
  • Recognize the grief of the bereaved

Mom Anon is a group of mothers in Brevard County whose children are either addicted or have died from addiction. The group has about 100 members and meets occasionally. “We're trying to organize more monthly meetings to support each other and talk about the issues we're facing,” Shine said.

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This free information session will feature representatives from agencies and service providers who will provide information, offer resources and answer questions about the dangers of drugs in Brevard.

The mental health aspect of drug abuse is also being studied, and Narcan will be available. Naloxone (the generic name of Narcan) can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose within minutes, the website says.

The event is open to all and is expected to end between 7:00 and 7:30 p.m. (refreshments will also be available).

“It’s no longer about an overdose, but about instant death.”

Shine wants to tell her story about Keaton being a “good young man,” “smart,” “funny” and so much more – and about how parents should think twice about assuming drugs aren't dangerous for their children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that synthetic opioids like fentanyl “contribute to nearly 70% of overdose deaths. Even in small doses, they can be fatal.”

Shine said her son took pills before the fatal dose.

Fentanyl can be taken legally by patients under the strict supervision of a licensed physician. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), many illegal drugs are laced with illegal fentanyl. “Because of its potency and low price, drug traffickers mix fentanyl with other drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine, increasing the likelihood of a fatal interaction,” the DEA said.

It can happen to anyone, in any area of ​​life. That's what Keaton died from.

“I loved him so much,” Shine said of Keaton. “He was such a good boy. He just made a bad choice, you know? He made a bad decision.”

“It's not (just) an overdose anymore,” Shine said of drug abuse. “A pill can kill… Fentanyl changes everything. It's not an overdose anymore, it's an instant death.”

You can join the Mom Anon group on Facebook or contact Shine at 407-272-0938 for more information.

This reporting is supported by a grant from Journalism Funding Partners. Mental health reporter Sara Paulson can be reached at [email protected].

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