In Memory of Michael Wardell Walker Jr.
Mikey's Message
A petition for a Kratom-Free Hernando County and the creation of an Emergency Task Force to protect our families.
Awareness. Education. Prevention.
What Is Mikey's Message?
2026
Year Mikey's Message was founded
Hernando Co.
Where the fight begins
3 Demands
For county commissioners
MIKEY'S Message is a youth leadership and community prevention initiative born directly from the loss of Michael Wardell Walker Jr. It exists to make sure no other family in Hernando County — or anywhere — has to bury someone they love because a dangerous substance was sold to them as harmless.
Kratom is an unregulated substance derived from a Southeast Asian plant. It is sold legally in Florida, marketed as a natural supplement for energy, pain relief, and anxiety. But kratom contains active compounds that act on opioid receptors in the brain. It is addictive. It can be lethal. And it is being sold to young people with no warning, no age restriction, and no accountability.
Mikey's Message carries three demands to the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners: establish an Emergency Task Force, declare kratom a public health crisis, and invest in prevention programs that reach young people before it is too late.
This is not just a petition. It is a promise — to Mikey, to every family who has lost someone, and to every young person in Hernando County who deserves to grow up safe.
The Petition
We, the undersigned, call upon the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners and local law enforcement to take immediate, decisive action to address the kratom crisis devastating our community.
Establish an Emergency Task Force
Create a dedicated Hernando County Emergency Task Force focused on kratom awareness, education, and prevention — bringing together law enforcement, healthcare providers, faith communities, and families.
Declare Kratom a Public Health Crisis
Formally recognize kratom as a public health crisis in Hernando County, enabling access to emergency funding, resources, and coordinated county-wide response.
Invest 10% in MIKEY'S Message
Allocate a minimum of 10% of any emergency task force budget to MIKEY'S Message — a youth leadership and prevention initiative dedicated to awareness, education, and keeping our families whole.
Add Your Name
Every signature matters. Stand with us.
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Spread the Word
Every share brings us closer to a Kratom-Free Hernando County. Help us honor Mikey's memory.