On April 9, Gabrielino High School held a workshop on the scale of the fentanyl epidemic, how to identify fentanyl laced pills, and how to administer Naloxone, or Narcan, during a fentanyl overdose. The workshop was open to students and families across the district and was held in the Gabrielino Media Center, hosted by the non-profit Day One. Attendees received a free 2-dose box of Narcan after the event.
Day One distributed boxes of Narcan for free, which would otherwise be $45. Students younger than 18 were still allowed to receive Narcan provided their parents signed a waiver.
“We are a distributor, meaning we don’t charge you for getting the Narcan,” explained Nicole Centeno, one of the presenters at the event and Prevention Coordinator at Day One.
Ruth Esseln, Director of Student Services at San Gabriel Unified School District (SGUSD), explained that this event was a part of a more “intentional” approach to student safety. Esseln contacted Day One to hold the workshop at Gabrielino after they hosted a similar presentation to students at Del Mar High School.
The workshop began at 6 p.m., starting with a description of the fentanyl crisis before moving on to recognizing and responding to an overdose. This comes as fentanyl becomes increasingly epidemic across the nation, including here at home in Los Angeles County where overdose deaths have skyrocketed.
The Day One presenters emphasized that overdose victims were often “straight-A students, soccer players, and leaders”, the kinds of students who “might buy an Adderall pill to focus” and not realize it was laced with illegal fentanyl.
Drug dealers often illegally lace other drugs with fentanyl to increase their potency. Students buying drugs like Xanax or Adderall risk ingesting and thus overdosing on illegal fentanyl.
Freshman Peter Mao expressed satisfaction with the event. Mao noted how students not only learned how to respond to fentanyl overdoses but also the scale of the problem and avoid it themselves.
Substance abuse prevention is one aspect of Day One’s wider program, which promotes public health outreach across the San Gabriel Valley.
“Basically, we go out to schools, community centers, and give workshops about substance use prevention,” Centeno elaborated. “We’re definitely student-focused, but we’re also family-focused. We’re very balanced with creating workshops for youth and also families, parents, and caretakers.”
They discussed recognizing the signs of an overdose, such as unconsciousness and a strange gargling from the victim’s throat, at which point Narcan must be administered through the nose.
Yet one of the biggest things the presenters emphasized was that an overdose victim would need multiple doses of Narcan to keep them alive, as many as 13 before they arrived at a hospital. While a single dose might not save a person’s life, giving doses to as many people as possible could still save lives.
“Being able to recognize the overdose and save a person. I think it is a valuable skill being able to help out,” said senior Nicholas Cayafas.
School districts have allowed students to carry Narcan with them, most notably Los Angeles Unified School District, and SGUSD has followed suit.
“We’re also training staff as well… primarily try to train them on Narcan,” Centeno continued.
The event was well-received by staff, students, and parents, with attendance from elementary and middle school families.
“Now I know how big the epidemic is, how to administer Narcan, what to do,” commented Cindy Momtejano, a Jefferson Middle School parent who attended the event.
With Narcan in hand, Gabrielino students are prepared to address the fentanyl crisis wherever it arises.
“We must try our best to save their lives,” Mao said. “[We] have the ability to save people’s lives too.”
