In November 2021, Archie Williams High School student Henry Pratt published an important article in the school paper - Every parent’s worst nightmare: fentanyl epidemic overtakes teens. His article was nationally recognized and won a Best of Student News Organization (SNO) award. It also sparked a response from school administrators to address the role of substance use prevention and harm reduction education around the fentanyl epidemic.
The Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) responded by hosting a Community Meeting in March 2022 (with Spanish translation) to hear directly from local students about specific actions they were urging the community to take to prevent future fentanyl poisoning tragedies. And following the student recommendations, four action teams were created: Wellness and Mental Health, Narcan Distribution and Training, Expanded Curriculum Planning,and Parent and Family Education.
Henry states, “When I wrote my first article on fentanyl, I was floored by the devastation and loss that it is inflicting on communities. Since that time, I have done my best to help spread awareness surrounding the dangers of fentanyl. I’m happy to play a part in our community’s response to this crisis.”
Henry is now a senior and Editor-in-Chief of the Pitch. He has since written two more articles.
In the first, Local teen spreads awareness of fentanyl epidemic through non-profit charity, Henry sat down for a Q&A with Avery Kalafata. Avery founded Project 1 Life after losing a loved one to fentanyl. A teen led non-project organization, Project 1 Life ambassadors actively spread awareness to teens about the dangers of prescription drug use and fentanyl poisoning. Their projects are focused on making sure teens and young adults know what fentanyl is, why it’s dangerous, and what to do if someone is experiencing fentanyl poisoning. Project 1 has ambassadors in 25 states and spreads their message through posters, classroom education, and social media.
And last month, Cornering the California Drug Trade explored the transit of illicit substances through Drug Trafficking Organizations. Focusing on fentanyl, Henry outlines how the drug is manufactured in China and bought overseas through manufacturers over the dark web and smuggled into the United States or to Mexico. When the drugs arrive in Marin County via interstate highways, independent drug dealers buy them and sell them through social media platforms. These drugs are primarily counterfeit pills made with unregulated lethal amounts of fentanyl. Youth purchasing pills over social media or through a familiar drug dealer need to understand that there is no such thing as a legitimate pill on the black market. They are all dangerous.
We commend Henry and Avery for doing their part to raise awareness among their peers and community. If you would like more information or Narcan training, please visit RxSafe Marin.
Click the links below for a helpful handout, What Every Parent and Caregiver Needs to Know About FAKE PILLS: