life is greater than drugs
life is greater than drugs
Tons of young people already know how great it feels to live out their singing, dancing, music, sports, artistic and creative dreams every day. You can too.
But if you start misusing drugs like opioids and fentanyl, all those dreams can die. And so can you.
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GET THE FACTS
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Nearly 300 Americans die from drug overdoses every day
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Almost 600,000 kids age 12–17 misused opioids in 2023 – some of them didn’t make it to 2024
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Half of all illegal pills with fentanyl in them tested by the DEA contain a potentially deadly dose
Everybody knows that illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin and meth are dangerous. But even drugs that seem safer – like pills you get from a friend or someone on social media – can be deadly too. These kinds of drugs kill tens of thousands of people in the US each year, including kids and teens like you.
What are prescription opioids?
Opioids are a type of drug used to treat people experiencing pain, usually because of an injury or surgery. Examples of prescription opioids are OxyContin®, Percocet®, Vicodin®, codeine, morphine and fentanyl.
When used only by the person who gets the prescription, in only the amounts prescribed, opioids can be an important part of treatment. But taking a pill from somebody else’s prescription is never a “safe” way to get high.
What is fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid (meaning it’s created by humans, instead of occurring in nature) that is 50 to 100 times more potent than other opioids. Because it’s so strong, doctors only prescribe it to treat severe and ongoing pain – like for patients who have major surgery or advanced-stage cancer.
Almost all fentanyl-related overdoses you may have heard about lately are linked to illegally made fentanyl. This kind of fentanyl is especially dangerous because dealers add it to other drugs to make them cheaper and more addictive. So any illegal drug someone takes could secretly have fentanyl in it.
That means people who think they’re buying a drug like Percocet, Xanax or oxy online could easily be getting tricked into taking a pill that also contains fentanyl. And since it’s so powerful, even the tiniest amount of hidden fentanyl could become deadly.
GET BUSY
You probably already know that participating in extracurricular activities like sports and clubs is a great way to make friends, enhance college applications, and have fun. But studies show it can also help you avoid developing a drug problem. So try something new, find something you love and get involved today!
Activities like these can also be a good excuse for not doing drugs if you ever feel pressured to try them. If someone offers you pills, you could say you can’t take them because you’d get kicked off your sports team if you got caught. Or you could suggest an alternative, like listening to music or heading to the beach instead.
Other ways to turn down drugs include:
- Simply saying “no thanks!”
- Asking a friend who you know also doesn’t want to do drugs to back you up
- Literally walking away
GET HELP
If you or someone you know is overdosing on fentanyl or other drugs, call 911 immediately.
For more help, talk to a trusted adult, or use these free Orange County resources:
Get Free Naloxone
Naloxone is a nasal spray that can reverse an opioid or fentanyl overdose and save someone’s life. It’s available for free at lots of places in Orange County.
OC Links
Find out which County services can help you most, including alcohol and drug treatment programs, available 24/7.
OC WarmLine
Confidential support for anyone who has concerns about mental health, substance use, loneliness and more, from 12pm–12am every day.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call this free hotline immediately.
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