On Friday morning, students at Eastlake High School in Sammamish traded regular class time for a blunt warning about fentanyl. Federal agents and local partners were on campus to talk about the spike in counterfeit pills, while a mother who lost her daughter to the drug told teens how fast a single pill can turn fatal. Organizers said the session was meant to give students concrete steps to stay safe as families and officials across the region confront a wave of fentanyl-laced pills circulating on social apps and in school communities.
We spent the morning at Eastlake High School in Sammamish, WA warning students about #fentanyl. Laura Lynch shared about her daughter, Brillion, who died from fentanyl poisoning. We are working towards a #FentanylFreeAmerica @DEAHQ @TheJusticeDept @SammamishPD @EastlakeLWSD https://x.com/i/status/2042693172694827368
— DEA Seattle (@deaseattle) April 10, 2026
DEA outreach at Eastlake
According to DEA Seattle, agents and their community partners used the visit to walk students through how counterfeit pills are sold and why fentanyl in particular is so dangerous. The stop at Eastlake is part of the DEA’s Operation Engage effort, which provides classroom materials and community events focused on preventing overdoses, according to DEA.
A parent's warning
Laura Lynch spoke to students about losing her daughter, Brillion, to a counterfeit pill that contained fentanyl, a tragedy KIRO 7 has previously documented. In its post about the visit, DEA Seattle described Brillion as "forever 18," wording meant to drive home how quickly a single pill can turn deadly.
Local numbers and school response
Fatal overdoses in King County remain a significant concern, even though preliminary 2024 numbers have edged down, according to The Seattle Times. Eastlake High School, part of the Lake Washington School District, posts schedules and family resources on its website.
Resources and next steps
Parents looking for help can call SAMHSA’s national helpline or use its online treatment locator, according to SAMHSA. For local information, Public Health — Seattle & King County maintains an overdose data dashboard and lists prevention and harm-reduction programs, according to Public Health.
