Drena De Niro and her father, Robert De Niro, are responding to the devastating Robert De Niro family tragedy by launching an online safety initiative aimed at helping young people. After the death of Drena’s 19-year-old son, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the family is turning their sorrow into advocacy for digital awareness and support for families facing similar losses.
The family’s efforts have drawn attention from parents, supporters, and advocates, who regard Drena’s openness as a valuable contribution to substance use prevention and youth safety discussions.
Drena De Niro Seeks Deeper Awareness Around Digital Dangers
In July 2023, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez died in New York City after consuming pills that authorities revealed were tainted with fentanyl and additional substances. The New York City medical examiner later classified his passing as an accidental overdose. The incident has sharply focused the family’s attention on risks facing teenagers.
During an interview with People, Drena explained how online influences can dramatically shape the choices of teenagers.
“Digital spaces shape behavior, encourage risky experimentation, and can expose young people to counterfeit pills,”
Drena De Niro, Mother. She further emphasized the need for proactive family dialog:
“I want families to understand how quickly situations can escalate, especially at an age when teens are still learning to make independent choices.”
Drena recounted that her son was both creative and full of hope, urging the public to view him beyond the circumstances of his death. She believes discussing Leandro’s journey will open up conversations regarding mental health, online risks, and the need for supportive resources for teens and families.
New Foundation Created to Support Other Families
To honor Leandro’s life and address the dangers he faced, Drena and Robert De Niro established the Leandro De Niro Rodriguez Foundation. This new organization is committed to turning pain into purpose by launching educational programs, outreach, and community support designed for families affected by fentanyl exposure, substance use, and digital threats linked to illegal drugs.
Authorities have arrested five people connected to the pills involved in Leandro’s case. According to Page Six, prosecutors say the suspects are tied to several overdose deaths, including this one. Drena has called the progress “bittersweet,” expressing her determination to focus on responsibility, prevention, and fostering safer online spaces for young people. Her resolve has inspired encouragement from the advocacy community:
“Few parents find the courage to speak publicly so quickly after such a loss,”
advocate familiar with the family.
Continuing Leandro’s Legacy Through Action
Drena has stated that her son’s influence fuels every aspect of her advocacy work. She told The Sun that her hope is for other families to engage in honest conversations, pay close attention to their teens’ online activities, and take digital threats seriously. By connecting personal tragedy with outreach, she is drawing attention to the nationwide fentanyl crisis and the hazards teenagers can face on the internet.
Through this new foundation and her public outreach, Drena De Niro aims for her family’s story to serve as a catalyst for change. She has expressed her desire to spare others from the grief her family has endured, cementing a legacy focused on hope and support for families and young people navigating today’s digital challenges.
