USA First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff

Dear First Partner Siebel Newsom,
My name is Helen Ozuna. I am an ambassador for the Drug Epidemic Memorial
Wall. I know you are also a mother, and I am sure you love your children as much
as I loved my daughter Sarah and would do anything to protect them. I am writing to
you with a heavy heart, seeking your help in finding a permanent location for a Drug
Epidemic Memorial Wall within our capital.
As a mother who has lost my daughter, Sarah Ribera to fentanyl poisoning, I
understand the pain and trauma that comes with losing a loved one to this epidemic.
I believe you to be an advocate for women. I have watched your documentary, Miss
Representation: wonderful work by the way. My daughter Sarah, also wanted to be
an actress. She was very active in high school, holding a 4.0 GPA throughout
school and was also part of the Thespian Society in drama class. She was outgoing
and lit up the room with her beautiful smile. After she suffered a horrible rape at the
age of 19, she had a mental break. After years of failed attempts with psychiatrists
and medications, she was talked into trying street drugs. She struggled for 6 years
to get off the drugs. The past eight months before Sarah's death she was clean and
started to reclaim her life. On July 10, 2021, she went to a friend's house to do
laundry and I was told by the detective that one of the friends gave her what she
thought was heroin, but it was laced with fentanyl. Sarah died that day 24 days after
her 32nd birthday. Sarah wanted to numb herself from the pain she was suffering,
but she didn't want to die.
Sarah is by far not the only young person who has fallen victim to this drug. There
are numerous stories like hers. Parents all over the world have come together. We
have created two memorial walls: one with photos, and one with names, to honor
those who have lost their lives due to this drug. I am including Sarah’s frame in this
letter, along with a brochure of virtual memorial walls, albums, and our awareness
campaign. These digital walls and albums update automatically, and we would also
like the photos displayed in hard copy format.
We believe that our loved ones should be treated like victims of a weapon of mass
destruction. They were all victims of Purdue Pharma, Chinese and Mexican cartels.
Our group of California moms would love to meet with you and work together to
prevent this from happening ever again.
In the year 2000, there were approximately 20,000 drug-related deaths in the U.S.
And according to the CDC, (the year Sarah passed away in 2021), 106,699 drug
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