In a concerted effort to combat the surging fentanyl crisis, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office hosted an educational forum in Scottsdale on Monday, February 27th, with a focus on offering critical information to shield teens from the drug's deadly reach. The latest data paints a grim picture of the epidemic, with fentanyl-related deaths in Maricopa County soaring by 5,000% over the past decade. "You can order it up online, you don’t have to go to a bad part of town and find a dealer anymore. Dealers sell on social media," Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell pointed out, highlighting the sinister ease of access to the potent narcotic, ABC 15 reported.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, another free event is slated to take place, where both the Maricopa County Attorney's Office and the City of Avondale will unite to delve deeper into the fentanyl issue gripping the region. Set against the backdrop of a familial and casual setting, complete with refreshments and Spanish translation services available, the gathering is an attempt to knit the community closer in the face of this shared adversary, the event announcement detailed.
The panels at the forum illuminated the crisis and offered a tangible lifeline in the form of NARCAN, a medication known to counteract overdoses, which will be distributed post-event. This life-saving measure complements the shared knowledge, with experts emphasizing that education remains the strongest safeguard families have against the perilous drug. Cole Nochumson, a prevention specialist with notMYkid underscored the troubling trend of fentanyl use amongst youth being linked to mental health self-medication, "Substances have been used by youth, one, because of peer pressure, but most importantly, as a tool to help, in quotes, with mental health,” he stated in a forum which was held at Notre Dame Prep.
The roster for the upcoming event reflects a multidisciplinary panel, including Jeffrey Beaver of the Maricopa County Attorney's Office Drug Enforcement Bureau and Dr. Todd Clever, MD of Banner Estrella Medical Center, among other key voices. Together, they'll dissect the fentanyl crisis nuances and contribute to a united front against a drug so potent, that it dwarfs even heroin or morphine in its potential for lethality. The urgent need for awareness was echoed by Marybeth Evans, a Chandler nurse, and grandmother, who expressed her growing concern: "I’m just really concerned because it’s cropping up more and more and more," she told ABC 15.
