Narcotics.com Spring 2025 College Scholarship

Navigating the Fentanyl Crisis in America: A Comprehensive Approach to Education, Harm Reduction, and Policy Reform

The United States is facing an unprecedented rise in fentanyl-related overdose fatalities, with over 56,000 deaths linked to synthetic opioids reported in 2020 alone (CDC, 2022). This alarming surge demands immediate and coordinated action across multiple fronts to mitigate the devastating impacts of illicit fentanyl. A collaborative, evidence-based approach involving enhanced education, harm reduction strategies, targeted interventions, and policy changes is necessary to address this public health crisis.

Greatly expanded public education and awareness campaigns can play a vital role in combatting the spread of illicit fentanyl (Gladden et al., 2016). Collaboration across public health agencies, community organizations, and school districts is imperative to disseminate content on the extreme potency and potential lethality of fentanyl to diverse audiences. Messaging should emphasize that fentanyl can be lethal even in minimal doses and is often added to other illicit drugs without the user’s knowledge.

Particularly crucial is reaching adolescent and young adult populations through social media campaigns and integration of fentanyl education into existing substance abuse prevention curricula, as early intervention may reduce experimentation and build resilience among higher-risk groups (Carroll et al., 2017). For example, the CDC found a 162% increase in overdose deaths among 14-18-year-olds between 2019 to 2020, underscoring the urgent need for youth-focused efforts (CDC, 2022b). Successfully reaching younger demographics requires utilizing platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat in addition to traditional channels.

Implementing and destigmatizing various harm reduction strategies is also essential for saving lives in the near term. Multiple studies underscore the efficacy of expanding community access to naloxone. This medication can reverse opioid overdoses through training programs for first responders, law enforcement, healthcare workers, and the general public (McDonald & Strang, 2016). Widespread distribution of free naloxone kits and simplified access through standing orders at pharmacies are examples of interventions that should be promoted and covered by federal healthcare programs.

Additionally, supervised consumption sites where substance use can occur under medical supervision have been linked to significant reductions in overdose mortality rates in cities such as Vancouver and Toronto (Kennedy et al., 2017). However, legal barriers remain an obstacle to the large-scale adoption of this intervention in the United States. Outreach and education on the established benefits of supervised consumption may help generate the public support necessary to catalyze policy changes.

Perhaps most crucially, the introduction of fentanyl-checking services at existing needle exchanges and clinics can help mitigate unpredictable variations in purity across supply chains of illicit substances. These services enable users to test drugs for contaminants before consumption and have demonstrated feasibility across multiple small-scale pilot programs (Karamouzian et al., 2020). Federal funding and coordination is now needed to make drug checking widely accessible and potentially integrate tests into existing infrastructures like community pharmacies.

Looking upstream at prevention, policy initiatives targeting the systemic drivers of substance use disorder (SUD) are also required for a comprehensive public health response. As up to 7.7 million Americans currently suffer from comorbid SUD and mental illness, expanding access to integrated medication-assisted treatment and mental health services should be prioritized (Priester et al., 2016). This requires continued expansions to Medicaid coverage for low-income individuals and subsidies for uninsured middle-income families. Bolstering federal grant programs for treatment facilities focused on integrated care can also help significantly scale capacity nationwide.

Additionally, given the strong correlations between poverty, lack of education, unemployment, and heightened vulnerability to SUDs, policymakers must address these structural social determinants through legislation aimed at economic equity and support programs (Galea & Vlahov, 2002). Only through a holistic approach tackling both individual-level risks and societal-level factors fueling the demand for illicit opioids, can we hope to reverse the rising tide of synthetic opioid-related harms.

In conclusion, a practical, evidence-based strategy to curtail the rapid increase in fentanyl-related fatalities must incorporate multiple reinforcing components across the prevention and treatment spectrum. Sustained collaboration and destigmatization of harm reduction approaches alongside policies expanding access to integrated care and addressing root societal causes of SUDs hold promise for creating healthier and more resilient communities. The scope of this public health crisis demands nothing less than a comprehensive, compassionate, and collective national response.

Michelle Chung
[email protected]
Liberty University

As a person in recovery, who now works at a substance abuse and mental health facility helping suffering addicts, I have seen my fair share of overdoses, death, and pain associated with the fentanyl epidemic. The fentanyl epidemic is something that I believe is overlooked politically. Some might think that the addict has a choice and “they could stop if they wanted to”. The general public who doesn’t suffer from the disease of addiction, are somewhat biased on how they feel about the epidemic, in my opinion. I’ve thought long and hard about this, even before applying for this scholarship. I’m tired of seeing my friends and acquaintances suffer and die from the fentanyl epidemic. Good people fall into a deadly addiction accidentally unaware that what their doctors are prescribing could potentially lead to a torturous disease of the mind. This is an addiction. Below are a few strategies I think could change the epidemic as well as societies views towards the struggling addict.

First, Public Awareness Campaigns. Governments and organizations can launch awareness campaigns through various media channels, including television, radio, social media, and billboards. These campaigns should focus on the risks associated with fentanyl and provide information on how to recognize its presence in drugs. Second, drug education programs in schools that specifically address the dangers of fentanyl. These programs can educate students about the risks and consequences of using opioids and other illicit drugs. Community Outreach which engages with local communities to spread awareness. Support community organizations, outreach programs, and harm reduction initiatives that provide information on fentanyl’s dangers and resources for those struggling with addiction. Also, ensure that healthcare providers, including doctors and pharmacists, are well-informed about fentanyl and its risks. They can play a crucial role in educating patients and prescribing alternative pain management options.

Combating the fentanyl crisis requires a multifaceted approach that combines prevention, education, treatment, and enforcement efforts to save lives and reduce its impact on communities.

Justine Fernandez
[email protected]
Palm Beach State College
Student ID: J17224148

Poisoned Futures: My Road from Fentanyl Addiction to Advocating for Change

As someone with firsthand experience of the tragic consequences of fentanyl addiction, I feel a responsibility to educate others on its risks. When I overdosed on fentanyl in 2016, I was completely unaware that the drugs I had taken were laced with it. I am lucky to be alive today thanks to the quick administration of Narcan by first responders. Sadly, many are not as fortunate. 2021 and 2022 saw staggering numbers of over 100,000 deaths each year caused by fentanyl and synthetic opioid overdoses. This public health crisis demands action across all levels of society.

We must spread awareness that illicit fentanyl has infiltrated virtually every drug sold illegally today. Many young people experimenting with recreational drugs like cocaine, MDMA, and counterfeit prescription pills are unaware that they often contain fentanyl. Just a small amount can be lethal. Educational campaigns are needed to reach those most at risk. Schools should incorporate overdose prevention into drug awareness curriculums and make Narcan easily accessible. Community centers, churches, and outreach programs also have a role to play in candid conversations about the fentanyl poisoning reality. The message must be clear – any drug not dispensed directly from a licensed pharmacy may contain fentanyl and immensely heightens the chance of overdose.

Additionally, our culture glorifies drug use in media and pop culture without showing the grim reality. Celebrities and social media influencers could save lives by using their platforms to speak openly about the fentanyl crisis rather than depicting harmless partying. There is an urgent need for impactful public service announcements regarding fentanyl to counteract these dangerous normalized attitudes, particularly targeting youth and young adults. Alarming numbers of teenagers are falling victim to fake prescription pills, unaware they contain lethal doses of fentanyl. This should outrage and galvanize all of us into action.

Law enforcement also has an essential role in this fight. Increased funding is desperately needed to stop fentanyl from flooding across borders and onto our streets. Sentencing and penalties for fentanyl trafficking and production must be severe enough to deter further spread. However, we must also approach addicted users with empathy, expanding access to addiction and harm reduction resources rather than treating them solely as criminals. Recovery is possible, but the poison must be cut off at the source.

Finally, the roots of addiction that drive people to use illegal substances must be addressed. Trauma, mental illness, poverty, and lack of opportunity all contribute to substance misuse as a form of self-medication. By strengthening social safety nets and access to addiction treatments and harm reduction services, we can mitigate the demand for deadly street drugs. Recovery is possible, as I can proudly attest over 5 years clean from my fentanyl addiction. With compassion, education, and preventative action, countless lives can be saved from this modern poison claiming so many of our country’s bright futures. The time to act is now.

I hope these suggestions drawn from my intimate experience with fentanyl, add to a constructive discussion on proactive solutions. Only by working urgently together across all sectors of society can we overcome this unprecedented epidemic. I stand ready to contribute my insight wherever it may be useful in this fight for the lives of those still suffering in the shadows. There is always hope we can make a change if we dare to speak and act.

Tina M Widergren
[email protected]
Long Island University
Student ID: 100272328

How to eat an elephant: A lesson in learning to love despite overwhelming anger

My brother’s death built and broke me all at once. It broke me like a bone breaks. It first shattered me, because a 15 year-old shouldn’t lose her 29 year-old brother to a drug overdose. But it then healed me like a bone heals, too. I could never have grown back the same, but I grew back stronger. This is a story about how my brother’s death taught me something about what it means to fight for love.

My brother Jordan battled with drug addiction his whole adult life. He was 14 years older than me. So his adult life- the one riddled with a vicious and cyclical overdose-to-rehab-to-relapse habit comprised the entirety of my lucid years as his little sister. I didn’t get the movie marathon, matching Halloween costumes, Christmas morning excitement, Sunday night family dinner kind of childhood with him. I was too young to be exposed to much of his habit, but I wasn’t too young to notice the havoc it wrought on our mother. By the time I was old enough to determine a relationship with him for myself, I held a hatred in my heart for him. I wouldn’t forgive him for what he was doing to our family and to himself. I had a shell of him to enjoy and a shell of him to mourn.

When we heard the complicated and challenging news of his overdose, I froze. I was standing in the kitchen- eyes fixed, ears ringing a deafening wave of tinnitus, stomach sick, all color evacuated from my face. All I could think was, “I missed it. I missed it. I missed it.” I missed out on the chance at a brother. And I missed out on the chance to forgive him. But how could I forgive his audacious, destructive, harmful life? The answer is the same as the one to a riddle I remember from my childhood: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

My brother’s death built resentment in me for a while, and it broke my spirit for a while, too. But I started a journey of reflection and discovering what it means to forgive- one I am still very much on. So far, I’ve learned that forgiveness isn’t meant to be fickle- it’s meant to be absolute. I learned that death can break down a person’s spirit, but it can also break attachments to fear and anger. It can build resilience and fortitude of character. I have determined that this will be my brother’s legacy – that those he left behind will have learned that it is not too late to love him, learn from him, and be a family to him. It is with this renewed outlook that I vigorously pursue my education in Nursing and Counseling – to carry the mantle that he left for me.

Addiction is a mind thing- at least that’s what I have been told. Many believe it is a weak-minded thing. I think addiction preys on the weakest part of that persons’ psyche. It doesn’t make them weak. My brother and father are addicts.2 of the smartest, hardworking, talented people I know, yet they allow a man-made substance to ruin their lives. Everything they work for is just to get drunk or high. Repeat. No real goals.

Alcohol and Drugs has had a hold on my community for decades now. Growing up in the hood, in the early 90s everyone’s parents were addicts of some sort. Either the mom or dad or in some circumstances both. Children born in the 80s have had it the worse when it comes to dealing with addiction. Crack was invented during our coming-of-age years. The years where we are most impressionable. Either you grew up selling drugs or using them. There were not a lot of people who weren’t affected directly by addiction. When one parent is addicted; it causes the other to have to work twice as hard to compensate for the time and money that was lost to drugs. I’ve seen families collapse because of these addictions. I’ve seen mothers sell their bodies due to these addictions. Some have even sold their babies. When I say I’ve seen, I really mean that I have witnessed with my own eyes. The mere fact that I have had to witness such horrible acts all in the name of addiction is devastating. It’s a fierce cycle of devastation that not only I have had to witness, but the majority of my peers have had too as well. It’s like an unspoken tragedy. We don’t know when it started exactly, we just know that, or families didn’t stand a chance. Some say the government put crack in the neighborhoods to dismantle the black families. Seems like it worked. It’s 2023 and people are still strung out on crack. Its so many other drugs, yet crack is still the drug of choice for the black community. It’s a great mystery as to why the hold is still so strong. Especially being that it is a watered-down version of cocaine. A highly addictive substance that was once considered a rich man’s drug. You would think that the ones still using would branch out. When crack first hit the streets the people were going crazy for it. Seriously-crazy. People were doing things they never did before. Fast forward to 2023, once the addiction began to kill young white people the government allowed drugs to be marketed to save lives of the poor innocent drug addicts. It is now an epidemic. They are labeling it ‘The Opioid Crisis’. A drug that has to be legally written by a dr and dispensed by a dr of medicine. Yet, the crack epidemic has yet to be addressed.

Growing up, we had programs like D.A.R.E that made us pledge to not do drugs. They wanted better for us as a community. They knew the things we seen on a daily basis could easily affect us negatively in the future. The heavy drug addiction cycle may have skipped our generation, but the kids of today are on all kinds of drugs. They weren’t raised properly because their parents weren’t raised properly. Another vicious cycle that plagues my community.

Daniel Goldsborough
200 grapevine road apt 131
Vista CA 92083
Student ID W7364929
[email protected]
MiraCosta
Expected graduation 2026

Alcohol and drugs have affected my family greatly, but I will only share my experience. I started using drugs when I was in the 8th grade. Alcohol and weed to ease the troubles of a broken home, at first the drugs did everything I needed them to do. Took away my stress, eased my troubled mind. It felt like in a world that was crashing down around me I could smoke some weed and hang out with my friends and everything was better. By the time I was a senior in high school that all changed. At this point I was living with my grandparents in Baltimore Maryland, the rest of my eight siblings lived in a small town outside of the city. I managed to graduate high school and go unnoticed by my family as a drug addict. This is mainly because of all the other drama in my family. Bigger issues were happening so it was easy to ignore the high schooler getting into trouble, and that’s part of the disease of addiction, group denial.

The downhill spiral really began as soon as high school ended, at this point I started using heroin intravenously in order to get off of the angel dust, I didn’t prefer heroin but angel dust has a specific smell that always caused me to get caught. Ironically I just traded one drug for another, from my graduation in 2011 until 2019 my life was that of a heroin addict, bouncing from one couch to another until I ended up in California. At this point my life was pretty much non existent, I would go to a treatment facility then after a month or so I would be back on the streets. The bottoms got lower and my family only got more distant.

It was extremely difficult for me to stop using drugs. It felt like I had no life, no reason to stop. Even to this day I know heroin will not fix my life or my problems, but I do know it will put my mind at ease for a few brief moments, but today I have a valuable life that I am not willing to throw away for a brief moment of relief. I got sober in 2019 and it has been quite a journey, it all started at a NA beach meeting in Oceanside, California. There I met people who would get sober and live life. My new found friends would go sky diving or find some cliffs to jump off of into a river. This gave me a glimmer of hope, maybe I can find a few brief moments of relief in sobriety. Since I got off of drugs my life as gradually gotten better, my siblings talk to me on a regular basis, and I just completed my first class of college. I have even had to opportunity to help other people who struggle with the disease of addiction.

Life is worth living today, that’s something I never thought I would feel. When I was in the depths off my own addiction I used to long for the day I was able to afford enough heroin to finally end this existence. I am so grateful that never happened, today I wake up and get to go to work or go for a run. Now starting in the fall I will be going to college full time. Working full time and going to class full time is going to be a wild ride, but nothing I cant get through with the help of my new found fellowship of friends.

Doing all I can to help my community

I have been enrolled in school for a few years now, taking classes little by little while working full time and raising my daughter. Initially I thought I would go to school for nursing. I was already working as a phlebotomist and HIV counselor in drug and alcohol rehab centers. I was performing HIV and Hepatitis C testing and teaching an HIV education class to this very high risk population. The work I was doing in the treatment centers was extremely rewarding, and I wanted to do anything I could to be of service to this population. However, after working so closely with this population in this capacity, I realized I wouldn’t get to help as much once I became an RN. I had ended up in this role because at the time I, myself, had 3 years clean.

To tell you a little bit more about myself, I currently have 9 years clean. I had reached out for help and got my life together when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, Lily. After growing up in a very hectic home, I had turned to drugs and alcohol and lived that life from 13 to the age of 26. I have experienced homelessness, the loss of many friends, isolation from my family, and a myriad of other challenges that come along with the disease of addiction.

Once I found out I was pregnant with my daughter in 2013 I made the decision to really try at getting my life together. I wasn’t able to go into residential treatment due to my pregnancy, so I slept on my mom couch, slowly tapered off methadone maintenance, while also attending NA meetings until I was finally able to fully detox. My daughter was born perfectly healthy, and has fortunately never had to see me intoxicated. I don’t want to say I’m cured but I do the work it takes to maintain my recovery on a daily basis with the help of NA.

As I mentioned, after a few years of school I decided to change my career path. The medical field didn’t seem to suit what I wanted to accomplish in my life. My major is now Psychology/ Social work. I know that the experiences I’ve had, and things I’ve overcome can be extremely helpful to a lot of people. I believe I bring a special perspective, understanding and level of empathy that is not something they can teach in school. I’d like to use what I’ve gained to better serve and help people to find a little bit of the freedom and peace that I have found.

I plan to continue my education and eventually have a Masters degree in social work. I am 3 classes away from completing my Associates for Transfer at Los Angeles Valley College. I intend to transfer to CSUN and continue to gain as much knowledge as possible, while continuing to work with the underserved populations and community that I currently serve. Thank you for your time and consideration.

My name is Jayla Jefferson, I am a junior at Wayne State University located in Detroit Michigan. I am currently double majoring in public health and community health. I decided to pick these majors because I’ve always found an interest in helping others. I knew that I wanted to go into a field that helped others, and something that would make a change.

From a young age, I was very passionate about helping others in need and helping people understand things they lacked knowledge of. My journey first began while I was being raised in the church. In church, I did a lot of things like being in the church plays for Christmas and Easter, and being a part of the praise and mime team but one of my favorite things to do was to go out into my community and volunteer. Volunteering was a weekly thing that my family and I would do. And that is where my passion all began. After every volunteer event, I noticed that I would be tired but I would be so filled with joy because I was able to help someone in need. And I think public health and community health have also been a joy for me because in the future I will be doing something I’ve always loved just with more knowledge and on a bigger scale.

Coming from Pontiac Michigan I see the need for change in my city. And my city has been on a continuous cycle of leaving fixable problems to develop into something so much larger. Currently, in my classes, I have been learning about health disparities, social disparities, and lack of knowledge. In my city, I’ve seen these problems firsthand, and before learning what public and community health was I never knew what that was called. Every Wednesday I teach free dance classes in partnership with Pontiac United and United Whole Mortgage. I teach all styles of dance to girls eight to eighteen. And weekly I see the impact the program has had on the girls. Extracurricular activities can be very expensive so being able to support the girls and their families has been amazing. It is also incredible to see how impacted their social, physical, emotional, and mental health has improved.

There is a quote by Peter Senge that says “sharing knowledge is not about giving people something, or getting something from them. That is only valid for information sharing. Sharing knowledge occurs when people are genuinely interested in helping one another develop new capacities for action; it is about creating learning processes.” I think this quote explains why I have picked public health and community health as my field
of study, to know for myself how I can improve my life but also how I can apply it to make life to help inform others. I want to take the knowledge that I learn about health and resources and inform others and help them get the most out of life.

Public and community health has impacted my life for the better. After attending Wayne State University I would like to receive my Ph.D. in public health. Throughout my experience throughout my time in the program, I have learned so much about myself but also so much about how I can help others around me.

I was born at one pound and ten ounces with a traumatic brain injury. I had excessive bleeding and swelling in the left hemisphere of my brain. These difficulties led to the diagnosis of cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that impairs muscular coordination, balance, and mobility. Although cerebral palsy is a lifelong impairment that does not worsen, it may lead to other issues. Since I have mild cerebral palsy, only one part of my body is affected. These are my legs, and when I walk, they make a scissor pattern. It was determined by doctors that I may never learn how to walk. But after several years of therapy and doctor visits, I surpassed all expectations.

The finest advocates are self-advocates. Becoming an advocate and service to others in the disabled community is my passion. Being born with mild cerebral palsy inspired my decision to create a nonprofit organization and become a mentor for disabled children. Due to my disability, I was unable to participate in many common childhood activities and events. My cerebral palsy hinders my intellectual and personal development. Achieving my dreams has not been simple, despite the help of my doctors and family, who have helped me progress. To support kids who are in similar situations, I intend to open a daycare and community center.

My education will allow me to thrive in my career of molding children’s lives. I love the idea of instructing disadvantaged children since it will help them acquire the abilities, they need to lead successful lives. I plan to build a community and daycare center that offers services to assist them with any issues. My organization’s main goal is to help those with Cerebral Palsy and other developmental problems, but all kids are invited to join. Because it teaches me how to become a great mentor, understanding the resources and techniques required to support children’s success is essential. The services in my organization will increase their overall development according to the needs of each child. My objective is to create a neighborhood where kids may feel at home and treat one another equally while also obtaining services to help them get ready for the future.

I will consider it an honor to provide future generations with possibilities I never had. Because I come from a less fortunate background, I did not get many opportunities to show off my abilities. I became passionate about helping disadvantaged kids after being rejected while seeking guidance from many places. Support and direction are all that children require to succeed in this world. Children who lack access to resources and are unable to achieve their goals can benefit from any kind of support. Due to how difficult it was for me to accept that I had little support, these circumstances also played a role in my determination to help other kids going through similar situations.

My goal in opening a daycare and community center is not to advance my career but to transform the lives of children with disabilities. Teaching children is essential because they are not influenced by their environment or society’s standards. Children should have access to an equal education regardless of their circumstances since they are the future leaders of the world. Guiding disabled children to succeed will become my mark on earth. We will prove that a disability does not mean inability and eliminate the stereotypes of the disabled community.