Mother who lost her son to drug overdose returns to school to learn public policy
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2024 graduates.
Nicole Caceres had been selling T-shirts bearing her son's artwork — but she wanted to do much more to honor his memory. The best way, she reasoned, was to go back to college, where she hadn’t been a student for more than 30 years.
Caceres said she was determined to learn how to affect public policy that might lead to ending the scourge the illicit drug fentanyl has brought to so many families — like hers.
Caceres’ son, Mathew LeBlanc, 24, died four years ago from a fentanyl overdose. An estimated 107,543 people died of drug overdoses in the United States in 2023, according to the National Center for Health Statistics at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
After her son’s death, Caceres founded a nonprofit organization named Love LeB, after a shortened version of Mathew’s last name, that is dedicated to the fight against overdose and illicit fentanyl. Sales of T-shirts featuring LeBlanc’s artwork helped fund the effort.
Caceres, an online student from Wake Forest, North Carolina, who lived in Illinois at the time of LeBlanc’s death, said her son held an art education degree, but had many more gifts.
“Mathew was a rock star. Such an interesting kid,” his mother said. “He knew how to cook, he could juggle, he could walk on his hands. He was an artist, a musician. He had so many talents and brought so much joy to our whole family.”
Caceres sent Love LeB T-shirts to Illinois legislators and other influential people to raise awareness of the human cost of the overdose and fentanyl epidemic. The Chicago Tribune and other Illinois media covered the story. But she said that wasn’t enough.
“The T-shirt thing was really great, but I realized I need to shift my focus … to be able to influence policymakers, to do more than sell T-shirts,” she said.
Caceres enrolled at Arizona State University, where she will receive a bachelor’s degree in public service and public policy. And now, this fall, she'll be graduating as the School of Public Affairs Outstanding Graduate.
Caceres said she chose to attend ASU because of its “stellar reputation” and the quality of its online public service and public policy degree. Her capstone project involved creating an education module designed to teach kids about overdose and illicit fentanyl and the widespread availability of fentanyl disguised as other drugs.
“I was always super interested in public policy issues,” said Caceres, whose job experience included a position as a regulatory affairs manager for an Illinois telephone company and working as a paralegal. “The stars aligned, and I’m where I want to be.”
Read on to learn more about Caceres’ ASU journey.
Note: Answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Question: What was your “aha” moment, when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?
Answer: After living in shock for that first year (after my son’s death), I awoke one morning and knew that I needed to educate myself and start a nonprofit organization. This devastating life event lit a fire under me to learn as much as I could about public policy, public service and the fentanyl crisis gripping our nation.
Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you, that changed your perspective?
A: I learned many things during my time at ASU. The most surprising thing I learned was how resilient and dedicated I could be during what will undoubtedly be one of the worst times of my life. I will forever grieve my son, but now I know that there is still a purpose for me. Educating myself has become my superpower and renewed my self-confidence.
Academically, one thing that stands out to me is learning about the intricacies of intergovernmental relations. Some issues, such as illicit fentanyl and overdose awareness, are vast and involve multiple layers of government. From grassroots efforts to foreign affairs, this issue is complicated and presents varying opportunities to make a difference in the world.
Q: Which professor(s) taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
A: I took nuggets of wisdom and knowledge from all of my professors at ASU, but the one that stands out is my senior capstone professor, Monica Gaughan. She helped me take a step back from all of the ideas I have for growing my nonprofit organization and focus on only a few at a time. She is compassionate, makes herself available and has a lot of lived experience to share. With her guidance, I was able to gather everything I have learned over the last few years and combine it into a senior project that I will be able to use to educate young people about the dangers of overdose and fentanyl. She helped me steer my nonprofit into a new direction and for that I am grateful.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: Don't give up; don't make excuses. We tend to find time for those things that are important to us. In addition, look at everything as a learning experience. Take the classes you are hesitant about. Go for it!
Q: As an online student, what was your favorite spot for power studying?
A: My favorite spot for power studying has been my dining room table. I work from home, so I needed a spot to separate work from school. I spent many late nights with papers spread across the table and clicking away at my keyboard. Finding time is difficult, but I made it a priority despite life's plans. I have studied at Starbucks, the library, a barn, airports and even a hotel room in Paris. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: I plan to grow my nonprofit organization and shift my mission to one of education. I will be approaching schools, youth groups and eventually policymakers in an effort to educate them. More than 110,000 people are dying every year from drugs. That's over 300 people per day. The amount of fentanyl coming into the U.S. every year is enough to kill every single person in the country. I will use my knowledge and passion to make sure people understand the magnitude of this issue.
I am also exploring opportunities in my professional life. I work for a multinational energy company that is heavily focused on several policy issues such as sustainability and clean energy development. I plan to have exploratory discussions with my colleagues in governance.
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?
A: Hands down, I would spend the money to try to solve the illicit fentanyl crisis. If I could spare even one family the heartache that I and so many others have endured, it would be money well spent.
The School of Public Affairs is part of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
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