Opioids in the Capital Region: What every family needs to know

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) - Lynne and Tony Piscitella, of Rotterdam, are turning their tragedy into an opportunity to shine a light on the dark corners or addiction. They lost their daughter, Jennifer, in April 29, 2019, to an accidental overdose. She was 28.

"I think she got mixed up with the wrong crew at some point," Lynne said, "We know she didn’t take that drug to die."

Like many in the Capital Region, Jennifer's addiction started with hydrocodone to treat her sports-related injuries, before venturing into heroin.

Lynne said, "She had gone to rehab quite a few times. It just had a hold on her."

"I just wish she would have reached out to us more for help," Tony said as a dad he wishes he could have done more. Together, Tony and Lynne are using their daughter's memory to reach out to other families who are in a similar situation.

More than 2.5 million people read Jennifer's obituary. Each year on the anniversary of her passing, her parents share a message in hopes that will help others who are struggling.

"Our beautiful daughter, Jennifer Nicole Piscatella, 28, of Rotterdam, NY was quietly taken from this world after an accidental overdose on April 29th, 2019. Her pain and embarrassment from her addiction has ended. Heroin is a nasty drug. It calls our children out and promises them confidence, thin bodies, and a best friend for life. It's all lies. Confidence changes to anxiety, thin bodies change to brittle bodies, and the best friend turns into a friend that you hate. 

Please, if you are reading this obituary and you're thinking, I've got a handle on this, or I can control this, you can't. Jenn thought she could, now she's an angel in heaven.

As much as we tried to help, it has to be up to you. Ask for help, and we, your loved ones will come running."

Lynne Piscitella

"It made me feel good we saved someone else. We may not have been able to save Jenn but we saved someone else's child," said Tony.

"The reality is moms and dads across this country are burying their children far too soon and they are burying them because they have been poisoned." Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino, oversees the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). 

"It's impacting parents, teachers, caregivers, people in positions of authority, we all know somebody that has become a victim of this crisis."

Tarentino says synthetic opioids, specifically fentanyl, are driving addiction, "Take your saltshaker and pour out 10-20 grains of salt, that's a lethal dose, that's what's killing Americans."

The New York Division seized 4.4 million fentanyl pills and 1,200 pounds fentanyl powder which according to the office, is enough to kill 39 million Americans, twice the population of the State of New York. Tarentino calls this an example of the impact law enforcement, DEA, state and local counterparts are having. 

"This is not a war on drugs, this is a fight every day to save more lives," Tarentino says, "By holding these drug trafficker's street level dealers and these wholesale distributors accountable and also prosecuting those people for those death resulting cases for killing young people, that's saving lives, that's having an impact. So, this is not about waging war, this is about saving lives."

Local deputies like Daniel Morrissey and Sergeant Jamie Panichi with the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office are driving the effort to get those drugs off our local streets.

In November, we were given exclusive access to ride along with investigators to watch a drug sting in real time.  Working with a confidential informant, the two narcotics investigators took News10 along as they attempted to do a controlled purchase of illicit street drugs. 

Every move is documented by Sgt. Panichi who is in charge of the Drug and Criminal unit. The timeline of events is critical in obtaining a search warrant. Once the informant returns to the car, they hand over the purchase.

As Morrissey bags the evidence he explained, "We got a little bit of crack and what looks to be some heroin. We'll take that for testing."

It's tested under a special hood equipped with a filtration system because as Morrissey tells us, "With fentanyl if you inhale it you can be exposed to it. "

The heroin purchased during the sting tested positive for fentanyl. Enough proof that illegal drugs were sold out of the unit that was under surveillance, giving investigators probable cause needed to obtain a search warrant. To see what happened during the drug sting, watch the video above.

"Trying to go after drugs on a local level it's obviously challenging," Morrisey said. "We are not a huge organization, we consider ourselves a street level unit. We try to get into the crack houses, get into the heroin houses to make a statement that we are here and we are looking for you."

The investigation into the drug sting is still pending. 

Sgt. Panichi says another level of their policing involves helping those in need, "When we find someone who is struggling we go the extra mile [because] the harsh reality is if you continue down this path you are no longer going to be here."

According to data from the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office, in 2024, there have been 43 deaths related to overdoses. The county was designated a high intensity drug trafficking area in September, joining Albany and Schenectady counties. This makes all three counties eligible to receive more resources and funding  from the federal government in their fight against the opioid crisis.

For help, reach out to the Rensselaer County Recovery Helpline

Call 1-833-467-3123 or Email at Rensco.helpline@gmail.com

In our special, "Opioids in the Capital Region: What every family needs to know," representatives from organizations like Second Chance Opportunities and the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center, pull back the curtain on what it looks like for those who are going through treatment.

Second Chance Opportunities is a not-for-profit corporation that provides supportive services to people in recovery from substance use disorder. They say their mission is to bridge the gap between treatment and a life centered in recovery. 

To find more resources near you or to learn more about what to do if you or a loved one is struggling, New York State's Office of Addiction Services and Supports, offers in depth options online:

Individualized Care, Locate Addiction Services, Navigating Health Insurance, and more

Strategic Planning for the future, Addiction: The Next Step, Reverse an Opioid Overdose, and more