REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (January 9, 2023) – To raise awareness about fentanyl – which can be up to 50 times stronger than heroin – and other synthetic opioids and the dangers they present, Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) and the Beach Cities Partnership for Youth Coalition are partnering with South Bay Families Connected and Hermosa Beach City School District to host a two-part, in-person event that will include an evening film screening of “Dead on Arrival,” a fentanyl documentary by Dominic Tierno and Christine Wood, followed by a panel discussion. A separate screening will take place earlier in the day with 7th grade students in the school district to encourage dialogue at home.
The free evening event is intended for parents and caregivers to hear from local young people who have lived experience with substance use. Young people from New Life House and Clarity Sober Living will share their recovery stories and what they wish their parents knew during that time. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a candid discussion with the panel to learn more about what they can do to better support the mental health of young people in their lives.
More than 150 people die in the United States each day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, according to the National Center on Health Statistics. Fentanyl-related overdose deaths among California's youth ages 10-19 years increased from 2018 to 2020 (261 total), a 625% increase. The crisis has hit close to home, with 529 fentanyl deaths in the South Bay between 2016-2021, including 114 young people under age 25, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. According to the DEA, criminal drug networks are using social media (like Snapchat) and e-commerce platforms to target consumers, often minors, due to the anonymity of these platforms and accessibility to users’ locations. This allows dealers to find potential buyers in their area through social media accounts and deliver the drugs directly to their location.
Naloxone (the life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication) will also be available for participants. BCHD’s supply of naloxone is provided by the California Health Care Services’ Naloxone Distribution Project.
For more fentanyl facts, stats and resources, visit bchd.org/fentanyl.
WHAT: What I Wish My Parents Knew: Dangers of Youth Substance Use and Fentanyl
WHEN: Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Hermosa Valley School, 1645 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach, Multipurpose Room
WHO: Panelists include:
Sebastian Martin, Executive Director of Operations at New Life House
Brooke Bauer, Program Director at Clarity Sober Living
TO REGISTER: Visit bchd.org/fentanyl
Media Contact: Dan Smith, dan.smith@bchd.org or 310-374-3426, ext. 8165
