Board of Directors

Founder & President

Following the loss of her son Austen, who died from fentanyl poisoning in 2019, April launched Lost Voices of Fentanyl in 2021 when she saw a lack of urgency of elected officials on the state and federal levels.

Working full-time to support her work as an advocate, April has built a movement that has played a central role in raising awareness, and changing policy. She has testified on multiple occasions for stronger legal consequences for fentanyl distribution and lobbied lawmakers directly. Her work helped pass the HALT Fentanyl Act without amendments. Since the establishment of LVOF, she has advocated for designating Mexican cartels terrorist organizations, calling fentanyl a “poison,” and ending the de minimis loophole.

LVOF's victim impact banners display 56 faces of fentanyl victims on each banner. To date, over 50 banners have been created, honoring thousands of lives. April also manages the largest Fentanyl Focus Facebook group (36,000 members) dedicated to addressing supply issues.

April conducts direct outreach in Kensington, Philadelphia, connecting with people affected by addiction and distributing resources.

She was featured in People magazine's "Women Changing the World,” and has appeared multiple other outlets, including Fox News, Newsmax, Real America's Voice, NTD, as well local news stations. She has also appeared in documentaries and podcasts.

Through press conferences, testimony, and nationwide events, Lost Voices of Fentanyl drives change and works to prevent other families from experiencing similar losses.

Vice President

Patricia Drewes is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada and resides in North Carolina. In 2019, she lost her 24-year-old daughter and only child, Heaven Leigh Nelson, to illicit fentanyl poisoning.

She joined Lost Voices of Fentanyl in 2020 and now serves as Vice President. Patricia is deeply committed to supply-side accountability, law reform, and ending the stigma surrounding fentanyl deaths. She has organized rallies, awareness events, and community outreach efforts across North Carolina.

That same year, Patricia founded Forgotten Victims of North Carolina, a statewide network supporting families impacted by fentanyl loss, now with eight chapters across the state.

In addition to her advocacy work, Patricia supports grandparents raising grandchildren after the loss of a child and is especially proud of raising her grandson.

Secretary

Laura Woody is a mother and grandmother whose commitment to Lost Voices of Fentanyl is shaped by lived experience, profound loss, and a lifelong devotion to family. After raising four children, she is now raising her two grandchildren, marking nearly five decades devoted to caregiving.

In 2021, shortly after being granted guardianship of her grandchildren, Laura lost her son, Jimmy, to illicit fentanyl poisoning. In response, she became deeply involved in fentanyl-accountability efforts and now serves as Secretary of Lost Voices of Fentanyl, Inc.

Laura’s work focuses on stopping the supply of illicit fentanyl, strengthening accountability, and improving education, enforcement, and policy responses. She also supports families impacted by fentanyl loss, including grandparents raising grandchildren after the death of a child.

She brings research-driven insight to her role, working with state and national policymakers to improve drug-death investigations and reporting, informed by firsthand experience navigating system failures.

Treasurer

Anita Puckett is a board member of Lost Voices of Fentanyl (LVOF), where she serves as Treasurer. She became an active voice within the organization following the death of her 27-year-old son, Kevin, who died from illicit fentanyl poisoning on July 27, 2021.

Within months of Kevin’s death, Anita became a moderator for LVOF and has remained deeply engaged in the organization’s mission. She has supported and attended LVOF

National Rallies in Washington, D.C. since 2022, standing alongside other families impacted by illicit fentanyl poisoning.

In 2024, Anita testified before the Maryland Senate in support of SB 1075 (Victoria and Scottie’s Law) during the 2024 legislative session. The bill sought to prohibit the distribution of lethal fentanyl and allow prosecution in the county where a death occurs, rather than solely where the drugs were sold. She also provided written testimony in support of HB 1398 / SB 0604 (Victoria, Scottie, Ashleigh, and Yader’s Law) during the 2025 legislative session, which proposed the creation of a new felony offense for distributing heroin or fentanyl resulting in death or serious bodily injury, with penalties of up to 20 years in prison.

In May 2025, Anita was invited onto the lawn of the White House alongside April Babcock and other angel parents in advance of the American Border Hero Awards, which she also was honored to attend.

Anita was invited and attended the signing of the Halt Fentanyl Act, which was signed into law by Donald Trump on July 16, 2025.

Through her advocacy, Anita continues to fight for stricter laws against drug traffickers and distributors. She strongly supports enhanced legal consequences for those who supply fentanyl and believes these crimes should be prosecuted as homicides.

Following her son’s death, she made a promise that his name and handsome face would never be forgotten. She has kept that promise