“I wish I knew…”
"I wish I knew that these pills were out there. I wish I knew about fentanyl." Javon Williams lost her son, Lamont Meyers, to fentanyl poisoning. He took what he thought was a Percocet; he didn't know it was laced with fentanyl.
Prevention
Parents, talk to your teens. Have real conversations. Talk to them about using and misusing prescription drugs. Help them to understand that even prescribed medications can be extremely dangerous and just as illegal when misused.
Avoid lecturing and instead allow them to ask questions or share what they think they know. Although the conversations may be uncomfortable, they give you the opportunity to learn what your teens already know and to share factual information that will better prepare them to make good decisions for themselves and their friends.
Monitor Online Activity
Be aware of your kids’ online activity. Know the websites your teens are visiting and check browser history. Familiarize yourself with who they’re friends with on social media. Examine credit card and bank statements for unusual purchases.
With the rapid spread of social media and messaging platforms, especially those that focus on temporary content that disappears after a short amount of time, drug dealers actively seek out vulnerable youth online. By staying engaged and vigilant, you can prevent these dangerous connections from forming.
Take proactive steps to educate your children about the risks of interacting with strangers online and establish open communication channels. Regularly review their online interactions and set boundaries for internet usage. Utilize parental control tools and monitoring software to track their digital footprint.
“Don’t ever think it can’t happen to you.”
“Never knew what this drug was. Never until it hit home.”
Consider Harm-Reduction Interventons
For older teens and young adults, you may want to consider discussing harm-reduction interventions. The goal of harm reduction is to minimize harm, even for those who choose to use substances. While ideally, we’d like our youth to abstain from using illicit drugs, we also know many college-age kids decide to experiment and/or self-medicate. Educating about the use of Naloxone and fentanyl test strips can save lives.
(1) Center for Disease Control (CDC). The Facts About Fentanyl. https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/fentanyl/pdf/fentanyl_fact_sheet_508c.pdf