COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Charlie Minn is a documentary filmmaker who has spent years shedding light on innocent lives caught in gunfire and violence, and is now bringing attention to the fentanyl epidemic with his new documentary, "Fentanyl Unlimited."
Last week, he spoke to a sociology class at Texas A&M University about his new film.
“This thing is hitting Texas hard. It's hitting the country hard. It's hitting the world hard," Minn said. "Joe Biden said in his State of the Union address said 70,000 Americans die every year, and that’s minimum, imagine how many of them are unreported.”
Unfortunately, the fentanyl epidemic is a realty one Texas mother has felt the effects of firsthand.
Savannah Crownover was just 18 years old when she took a Xanax laced with fentanyl, and died just 30 minutes later. Since then, her mother has been advocating for fentanyl awareness for two years now.
“She probably had the best belly laugh I've ever heard from anybody and what I learned about her, from her memorial service, is that she was there for her peers, and they were like, she was like a beam of light for them,” described her mother, Joanne Crownover, who now accompanies Minn to his public appearances to speak on the reality of fentanyl fatalities.
Minn’s documentary highlights the country’s addiction to addiction, and the consequences that come with it.
“Tragically, Americans are the leading consumers of illegal drugs in the world. We just love our drugs, and if they’re around chances are an American will take it," Minn stated plainly.
With one in four Texans having an opioid overdose or knowing someone who has overdosed, each year, Texas A&M students were able to understand and relate to the gravity of the fentanyl crisis.
Texas A&M Junior, Jackson Charles, described his reaction to their presentation in his class, "You know I've had some familial issues with drugs myself, and I've known people to go through it, and I mean it’s a hell of a thing, and they said it best its getting worse.”
For mothers around the nation, this documentary is a desperate plea for a solution.
“She didn’t have any idea what it was, and its just unfortunate. I want people to take it more seriously, I want legislatures and governments to loosen up money so that we can start to spread this word”, Crownover said.
The documentary is now playing at Bryan Premier Cinema for a limited time and a portion of the proceeds will go towards fentanyl awareness groups.
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