In a bold move to tackle the fentanyl crisis, the University of San Diego Women's Volleyball team has paired up with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, kicking off a fentanyl awareness social media campaign, in alignment with the National Fentanyl Awareness Day marked on April 29. The campaign emphasizes the necessity of community education on the risks of fentanyl, overdose symptoms, and the lifesaving role of naloxone. "These student athletes are terrific ambassadors for the messages of fentanyl awareness and prevention," said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, highlighting the significance of such collaborations in efforts to preclude fentanyl-related fatalities, as per a statement on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website.
The campaign features a poignant public service announcement where the USD volleyball team champions the sobering reality that taking a chance with drugs not sourced from pharmacies is a gamble with life, because deceivingly ordinary medicines could be laced with deadly fentanyl doses, despite the campaign coinciding with an event with a name referring to luck, it focuses heavily on the premise that safety and awareness are vital in evading the scourge of accidental overdose. City Attorney Heather Ferbert emphasized the importance of community awareness in combating the fentanyl epidemic and acknowledged the value of united efforts in safeguarding the public, the successful realization of this campaign is a testament to the sheer commitment from all parties involved, and the potential impact it is aiming to achieve—bringing education and life-saving knowledge to the forefront.
Amid an ongoing battle against opioid overdoses, naloxone has been identified as a critical tool; California residents can access it without prescription from pharmacists or through community-based programs at no cost, with more detailed information and training opportunities available at the Naloxone Information webpage. In their message, the student athletes articulate the stark reality that fentanyl knows no discrimination, it jeopardizes students, athletes, and community members alike, underscored by a collective declaration from the team.
