Today's The Day To Talk About Fentanyl
Today's The Day To Talk About Fentanyl
The life-saving messages every teen needs to hear
Today Is National Fentanyl Awareness Day
According to the CDC, fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, and all other accidents.
Among teenagers, overdose deaths linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl tripled in the past two years, yet 73% have never heard of fake prescription pills being made with fentanyl.
This is a national public health crisis. People, especially young people, are ingesting illicitly manufactured fentanyl without knowing it and dying at alarming rates as a result.
In today’s newsletter, I share a number of resources you can use to learn more about this situation. Please share with people in your family, school, and community.
— Christopher
Talk With Stanford Experts Live Today
Join Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher from Stanford's REACH Lab on Tuesday May 7th. She will provide information on the dangers of illegal fentanyl, its impact on teens and adolescents, harm-reduction strategies, and educational resources available to educators, students, parents and more.
Two free sessions available via Zoom:
9:00 am - 10:00 am (PST) Sign-up: http://tinyurl.com/StanfordFentAM
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (PST) Sign-up: http://tinyurl.com/StanfordFentPM
Counterfeit Pills — You Need to Know
Watch this four-minute video with the teens in your life and then have a conversation with them about the dangers of fentanyl and fake pills. In less than four minutes, it explains the dangers they face from illicit fentanyl and fake pills and how to stay safe.
Whether we are talking about drugs, dating, mental health, or any other sensitive subject, we want young people to feel safe to honestly share their feelings, ask questions, and voice their concerns.
An open conversation will:
Disarm the notion that this is a lecture
Provide a relaxed environment to discuss ideas without making them feel like they are being blamed or are in trouble
Let your child know you value their honesty and are willing to listen without judgment
Reassure your child that you can always be counted on for support and that they can confide in you whenever needed
Here are some questions you can pose as conversation starters:
“What fact from the video did you find most surprising?”
“Why do you think teens rate fentanyl as less dangerous than cocaine or heroin, even though it’s much more deadly?”
“Why do you think some young people take pills they didn’t get from a pharmacist?”
“Do you see drugs at school?”
“Do you feel like you can talk to friends and family about fentanyl? If not, what would have to change?”
“What steps can we take as a family to stay informed about drug safety?”
The New Drug Talk Short Film
Want to know more about the dangers of fentanyl and fake pills in the new and rapidly changing drug landscape? Watch this excellent 27-minute film. Several communities have organized community screenings and discussions around it using this free film screening guide.
TheNewDrugTalk.org
This site provides education, free tools, and expert advice to help families find reliable information about fentanyl and learn how to talk about it with teens. Below are some highlights of resources on the site.
Have the Talks
Use these guides to improve your “drug talk” skills so you and your child are always on the same page about safety, accountability and good choices.
How do I talk to my kid about fentanyl?
Teen overdoses are more common than ever, not because more teens are using drugs, but because the drugs are more potent and sometimes contain other, more dangerous substances. Fentanyl is now involved in ~80% of teen overdoses.
Try this interactive scenario about fentanyl and equip yourself with the information to help your child make safe and informed choices.
What Can I Do To Help?
Learn The Facts And Start The Conversation
Educating the public about this crisis is the first step to reversing the tragic outcomes. Teach yourself and your community about the facts. Tips for communication:
If you are a parent, don’t avoid the topic. Initiate an open dialogue with your family about fentanyl to understand their knowledge of the issue and if they’re aware of fake pills.
If you’re an educator, start the conversation in the classroom.
Beaverton, Oregon’s school district has developed free lesson plans for middle school and high school students available for use here.
Stanford has a free lesson plan called Fentanyl & Opioid Awareness & Overdose Prevention available here.
Don’t stigmatize drug use. Emphasize the high risks of encountering illicitly manufactured fentanyl and how individuals can protect themselves and their community.
Be Prepared
Above all else, keep in mind that any pill or powder drug not prescribed by a doctor may contain fentanyl. Learn how to respond accordingly:
Know the signs of an overdose: Loss of consciousness, unresponsiveness, irregular breathing, and inability to speak are a few of the signs to look out for.
Carry naloxone: Naloxone (also referred to as Narcan) is a life-saving opioid reversal medication. It commonly comes in the form of a nasal spray. Some states and cities are making it available for free. Find naloxone near you and learn how to administer it.
Test the product: Fentanyl test strips can help people know if drugs contain fentanyl. These strips do not, however, guarantee the safety of a drug. If a person chooses to consume a drug that has been tested, harm reduction organizations suggest they should “not use alone & go slow” and have naloxone on hand.
Be prepared to call for help: If you witness someone experiencing the symptoms of an overdose/poisoning, call 911 and request emergency medical services. All 50 states and D.C. have enacted Good Samaritan laws, which typically provide immunity to those who call emergency services when experiencing or witnessing an overdose.
THANK YOU!
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