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Substance Use Prevention Education works to bring awareness to the risks associated with drug and alcohol use by educating people through online technology. ADDICTED.ORG
Drug use is dangerous and even more so in the age of fentanyl. With the increasing number of overdose deaths in Florida, spreading awareness through prevention and education has never been more critical. Overdose deaths in Florida have increased annually, with a death rate of 25.5 out of every 100,000 residents.
Most of these deaths are connected to opioids like fentanyl. Youth and adults who begin experimenting with or using drugs have an increased risk of experiencing a drug overdose, whether fatal or not.
Even those who use alcohol place themselves at risk if they choose to use illegal drugs while intoxicated. Illegal fentanyl has been found in marijuana, cocaine, MDMA, heroin, and methamphetamine. It is also made to look like pain medication or other prescription pills.
It’s easy for anyone to buy and sell drugs today. Social media platforms, for example, have made fentanyl widely available to anyone with a smartphone. Every neighborhood is now an open-air drug market. Drugs purchased online are then shipped to your doorstep.
There has always been a risk when using illegal drugs for the first time. Yet, because of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, the stakes have increased tenfold.
This is why Substance Use Prevention Education has put together a series of educational videos for kids and adults to help increase awareness, promote prevention, and provide tips for parents. Prevention and education can be the first line of defense and ultimately save lives. Do not hesitate to reach out to us if we can be of any help to your community.
Marcel Gemme is the founder of Substance Use Prevention, which works to bring awareness to the risks associated with drug and alcohol use by educating people through online technology. For more information, go to www.addicted.org/supe.
