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Milla Jans

Fentanyl-related deaths have seen exponential growth in the past years, and fentanyl was the number one killer of teens in Orange County in 2021.

SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988

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Each dot represents one hundred individuals who have passed away due to fentanyl overdose in the United States. In 2022, there were 73,654 victims of the drug among all age groups (usafacts.org). According to the CDC, teen deaths increased by 94% from 2019 to 2020 and 20% from 2020 to 2021. Many of these deaths occur due to user unawareness of what they are consuming or the lethality of the substance. Fentanyl is only one of numerous drugs that have fatal effects, and everyone should be conscious of the dangers and consequences of substance abuse. Across the nation, schools spread awareness during Red Ribbon Week with dress-up days and the saying, “Drug use is life abuse.”

Drugs have always been a common issue in all high schools, and the matter has neither been solved nor decreased in prevalence. Instead, the issue seems to be growing, as seen in instances of alcohol abuse and drug use in school restrooms. This year, there have been 675 teen deaths in Orange County alone. 

However, this does not mean that nothing is being done to combat the distress caused by fentanyl: 90% of arrests are related to drugs, and presentations regarding substance abuse are being shared across high schools in PYLUSD. On October 23, 2023, a representative of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department visited Yorba Linda High School and provided students with strategies to help end the growing number of opioid-induced fatalities. 

Brian Gunsolley, the Drug Prevention Unit officer who gave the presentation, says that students can take multiple actions to prevent the spread of addiction and substance abuse by “…not experimenting with any pills, only using prescribed drugs, and being sure to not accidentally use an opioid just because it looks safe.” The OC Sheriff’s Substance Use Prevention Team is taking steps toward preventing drug use as well by educating students throughout the county about its dangers. 

While there may not be as many teen deaths as adults, there are many that are incredibly heart-wrenching. One instance, mentioned in Brian Gunsolley’s presentation, was a fourteen-year-old boy named Alexander Neville, who passed away after ingesting a fentanyl pill in 2020. This pill was allegedly obtained through a dealer on Snapchat, and it was reported to have had enough fentanyl to kill him twice. 

Alexander was living a content life, but to a young and still-developing mind, experimental drug use would lead to a harrowing addiction. These situations can happen to anyone who is not careful with who they are in contact with, the people they surround themselves with, and any substances they may come across.

Fentanyl dangers are not always known, and in some cases, people are not aware that what they are taking is interlaced with fentanyl. These kinds of opioids, known as counterfeit drugs, are what make the death toll of fentanyl so immense. Counterfeits resemble ‘legitimate’ pills that would normally not contain the illegal drug, rendering people unconscious of the risk they take. 

Brian Gunsolley uses the metaphor of cookie dough to represent how counterfeit pills containing fentanyl are made. The binding agent of the pill acts as the dough of the cookie, while fentanyl resembles the chocolate chips. In each batch, some cookies have more chocolate chips than others, making it possible for a person to become addicted to pills that do not contain a lethal amount. Currently,  6 out of 10 pills are deadly, and by the time someone realizes that they have consumed one, it may be too late. Unfortunately, in Alexander’s situation, this was the case. Keep in mind that these drugs are bought and shipped illegally and that the best way to avoid this danger is to not purchase them at all.

Adding to the reasons for fentanyl’s high death toll is the instant effect of the drug. Once taken, the individual ceases to breathe. This can be especially dangerous when no one is around to call an ambulance or perform CPR. Almost equally as threatening is addiction to any type of drug, since it consumes a person’s life. As explained by Wait 21, every human has a survival hierarchy, with food and water generally being in the top two places of importance. 

However, alcohol and drugs can fool the brain into releasing dopamine, allowing the carcinogens to take over the number one spot in the survival hierarchy. Addiction results from this process, and people susceptible to it will find themselves in a hard-to-break pattern. 

Though it may seem unfathomable at times, the pattern is not impossible to overcome. Seeking help from friends, family, professionals, or others is always a smart option to take since they can act as a support group and source of encouragement. Whenever the urge to consume substances takes over, counter it by removing sources of alcohol or opioids and doing something else such as exercising, seeing friends and family, or art. 

Know that relapses may happen, but the important thing to remember is that repressing addiction will become easier over time. These steps can also be taken to prevent addiction before it arises. To those who are struggling with poor mental health, never resort to using substances to cope. Instead, take the time to breathe, talk with a trusted person, and be present in the moment. 

Teens and adults alike can do their part in preventing substance abuse by doing multiple check-ins with friends and peers or going to someone if they ever need assistance. The least anyone can do in, a world filled with issues such as drug abuse, is to carry love with them wherever they go.