Fentanyl: A Danger that Lurks Closer than You Think

Education is key to combatting this deadly epidemic

Major Manning turned 17 on September 29th, 2023. He died five days later. What he thought was a Percocet pill, turned out to be a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl. On October 3rd, 2023 Rhonda Manning's whole world changed forever. Never in a million years did she think her son, Major, would make the decision to take a pill, let alone pass away from that decision. She started a nonprofit organization to spread awareness about the epidemic, and bring awareness to communities, families, and kids.

Instead of allowing Major’s story to become another overdose statistic, Manning turned her pain into advocacy by creating the nonprofit organization A Major Movement: Fighting Fentanyl in a Major Way. Through the organization, she spreads awareness about fentanyl and educates young people and families about the dangers of counterfeit pills. Grieving unfortunately has or will happen to each individual at some point in their lives. Whether that's over a loved one, relationship, or a moment in time, grieving can be hard, emotional, and uncertain, but if there was a way to prevent some of the deaths wouldn't we want that?

Stories like Major’s have become increasingly common across California. Despite growing awareness campaigns, documentaries, free health resources, and educational programs, fentanyl overdoses continue to devastate families every year. The epidemic has especially impacts teenagers and young adults, many of whom unknowingly take counterfeit pills containing deadly amounts of fentanyl. As the crisis continues, education and prevention remain some of the strongest tools communities have to save lives. Getting educated on the fentanyl epidemic could not only save your own life, but a friend, loved one, or child's life.

In 2023, a movie, Fentanyl High, explores how teens think and feel about the fentanyl epidemic. Students, educators, parents, and district workers were a part of the film, which included their testimonies. This movie explores some of the underlying reasons why teenagers have turned to drugs as an outlet. The first screening of Fentanyl High was on May 16th, 2023 at Los Gatos High School Theatre, with over 400 people attending. The main take-aways are about the educational aspect of spreading awareness so more kids, teens, students, and community members will be informed and educated about this scary epidemic.

When watching Fentanyl High there were many emotions, sadness, frustration, and worry. As a college student it’s no secret that people are experimenting with different substances. The film being based so locally though really put things into perspective how many different people the epidemic was influencing within my own age group. From a young age, a lot of children are simply told that drugs of any form are bad, and that they shouldn’t try them. The adolescent brain, not being fully developed and still going through the processes of maturing, learning, and finding a sense of self, can sometimes lead to wanting to experiment with drugs. Within the film there were a couple of parents who seemed to understand this desire to experiment and all the pressures kids were facing in high school, from getting good grades to struggling with mental stress, to fitting in with their peers.

However the dangers of experimenting in this generation can be deadly. In 2023 alone 11,400 people died from overdoses. Opioids are a factor in at least 7 out of 10 drug overdoses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioids were involved in the majority of overdose deaths in the United States in recent years. Synthetic opioids, specifically illegally manufactured fentanyl, have become one of the leading causes of overdose deaths nationwide. In California alone, thousands of individuals die every year from opioid overdoses, with young people increasingly becoming victims of counterfeit pills disguised as prescription medications.

One of the reasons fentanyl has become so dangerous is because of its potency. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is significantly stronger than morphine -- about 100 times stronger -- and even a tiny amount can be deadly. Many individuals who overdose do not even realize they are consuming fentanyl because it is often mixed into fake Percocet, Xanax, or other pills sold illegally. This has created an environment where experimentation can quickly become fatal.

West Valley/Mission College District currently has free health resources that support the safety of all actively enrolled students in an effort to create awareness and destigmatize addiction in response to the opioid epidemic. The WVMCC district provides Narcan, Fentanyl Dosetests, and numerous educational information free to all actively enrolled students. There is a vending machine containing these resources in the FOX building where Narcan, and the Fentanyl Dosetests are restocked weekly. On the bottom is the Fentanyl Dosetest’s. In the middle are the Narcan boxes.This vending machine works as a regular vending machine- however this one requires no money.

Being educated is the first step to create change in the world. By taking some time and reading about the epidemic that knowledge can be passed to more people bring awareness and education about the epidemic to light.

Additionally, students can also go to Health Services located on the first floor of the Student Services Building. Kelsey Tyburski, district Nurse of West Valley Mission Community Colleges, said in an interview, “I have not noticed the fentanyl epidemic affecting the West Valley campus community specifically.” Tyburski ey states that West Valley college is part of a bigger community that is Santa Clara county. “West Valley and Santa Clara county are fortunate enough to be within communities where education around drugs, testing drugs and the fentanyl crises are widely acknowledged, talked about and educated on.”

Tyburski spends much of her time advocating for resources and working with students and staff to communicate these resources and their benefits. Tyburski sees it as her mission to follow CDC recommendations for fentanyl prevention and response. She says that at West Valley, “the resources we receive are free from the state. The resources are available to the students through our anonymous wellness vending machines, as well as Health Services. We want people to know about the resources and utilize them often! We are here to help and ensure that people have the proper tools and are educated and protected.”

The fentanyl drug epidemic has been going on for the past six years now; in California specifically there has been a crisis with fentanyl overdosing. The CDC states, “Opioid-involved deaths increased substantially from 1999 to 2023, but 2023 marked the first annual decline since 2018.” This data says that there were three waves of opioid overdoses over time. The third wave (the most recent one) mainly involves synthetic opioids, particularly those with illegally made fentanyl. There are basic opioids then there are synthetic opioids. Typically with laced drugs it's a synthetic opioid or one laced with fentanyl in an illegal dosage amount.

In 2023 around 217 people died a day from opioid overdose, according to “Understanding the Opioid Overdose Epidemic.” The emotional impact of fentanyl extends far beyond statistics. Behind every overdose number is a person, a family, and a community left grieving. Parents lose children. Friends lose classmates. Schools lose students. Entire communities are forced to cope with tragedies that often happen unexpectedly and without warning.

The fentanyl epidemic is not just a statewide issue or a national crisis. It is something affecting local schools, communities, and families throughout California. Documentaries like Fentanyl High, local health initiatives, and nonprofit organizations are all working toward the same goal: education, prevention, and saving lives.

The fentanyl epidemic hits closer to home than most individuals think. Behind every overdose number is a person, a family, and a community left grieving. People may feel fentanyl is a distant issue, but stories like Major Manning’s serve as painful reminders that the epidemic is much closer to home than many people realize. One pill can change a life forever. Through education, awareness, and community support, more lives may still be saved.