Articles

FentAlert is a new Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) program. A division of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), CSAP focuses on instituting prevention programs and promoting prevention education nationwide. Given the growing danger of Fentanyl use and resulting overdoses, FentAlert is a new program to empower youth proactively. Moreover, SAMHSA is conducting this Challenge under the COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010. To further explain, COMPETES is an acronym for America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science.

As a provider of Youth and Family Services for substance use disorders (SUD), Tarzana Treatment Centers understands the problem. As a program to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, FentAlert is a necessary step. Given the risks, the drug has made casual experimenting equal to playing Russian Roulette with a loaded gun. As a synthetic opioid, fentanyl is fifty to a hundred times more potent than heroin. Thus, a little goes a long way, and the drug cartels are making tons of this deadly drug.

Given the extreme amounts, they are putting fentanyl in many other drugs as the active ingredient. Often, when a person thinks they are taking a prescription tranquilizer they bought on the street, they are taking fentanyl. Hence the popularization of the term “fentanyl contamination.” In the harsh reality of fentanyl contamination, kids need to be protected at all costs. Therefore, programs like FentAlert are essential.

FentAlert Empowers Youth Against Fentanyl

In response to fentanyl abuse, FentAlert hopes to use the insight of young people to help young people. According to the SAMHSA press release, “In this Challenge, we are seeking the best ideas from U.S. youth, aged 14-18, on a community strategy to increase youth awareness, education, and prevention around the dangers of fentanyl, especially the hidden dangers of fake pills and other contaminants that can lead to drug overdose deaths.”

Under the dark shadow of the statistics, such efforts need to work. For example, the following data presents clear evidence of the national threat. Among youth aged 10-19, from 2019 to 2021:

1. Deaths involving illicitly manufactured fentanyl increased 182%.
2. Nearly 25% of these deaths were due to fentanyl contamination.
3. Monthly drug overdose deaths increased by 109%.
4. Despite bystanders, the vast majority of overdosing youth received no help.
5. The vast majority of youth did not know how to respond to an overdose.

Fentanyl is a stark reality that is not going anywhere. Unfortunately, the drug is here to stay.

Empowering Youth with FentAlert Means Saving Lives

Given the facts, TTC 100% supports prevention efforts like FentAlert. Empowering youth gives them a greater chance to survive and help their friends. As part of our Youth and Family Services Program, TTC incorporates education and raising awareness. Before treatment options, the first line of defense is prevention efforts. If you or a loved one wants to learn more about TTC’s Youth and Family Services, please contact us today.