A killer in the spotlight: County offering free screenings of 'Fentanyl High' to raise awareness
Mar. 11—As part of its effort to raise awareness about fentanyl abuse, the county will be screening a documentary focusing on the drug this week.
San Joaquin County Public Health Services, along with the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office, San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Services, San Joaquin County Office of Education, and the Reinvent South Stockton Coalition, are hosting free screenings of "Fentanyl High."
The film will be shown at the Lodi Stadium 12, 109 S. School St., on Wednesday, March 12 at 6 p.m.
Told from the perspectives of real high school students and their families in Northern California, the documentary explores how today's teenagers are dealing with their emotional pain in school and at home, and how they can get to the point of buying fake Adderall, OxyContin, Percocet, or Xanax from a stranger on social media.
"We are hoping that this documentary opens the door for important conversations between parents and teens about mental health and drug use," Dr. Maggie Park, San Joaquin County Public Health Officer, said.
This will be the third time the film will be screened in the county. County Public Health said the first two showings in Stockton and Manteca were very popular.
Another screening will be held in Tracy on March 18.
The movie will be followed by a panel discussion on mental health and substance use disorder treatment resources available locally. Free popcorn and drinks will be provided, and participants can take home a Narcan kit to reverse opioid overdose.
Last year, the Lodi Police Department received 177 calls for drug overdoses, and officers used Narcan 21 times to assist with life-saving measures. However, four deaths were suspected to be related to overdose.
The county established the Fentanyl Intervention and Response Safety Team, or FIRST unit, in 2023.
The FIRST unit will operate under the purview of the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office and is comprised of 11 members.
More than $2.2 million will be used to support the FIRST unit's three-pronged approach toward combating fentanyl.
The first prong is community outreach efforts such as addressing schools at special events, creating advertisements and mailers, as well as a social media campaign.
The second prong is focused on response and safety, and involves prosecutors investigating from where the drugs originated, as well as a dedicated crime analyst tasked with examining evidence and data recovered from electronic and digital devices.
The analyst will also work to identify specific target-areas of overdose occurrences. The third prong will focus on cooperating with as many agencies as possible. during investigations.
The unit will consist of three deputy district attorneys; two DA investigators; a paralegal; a crime analyst; a public information specialist; a victim witness advocate; and two legal technicians.
"Fentanyl High" is appropriate for audiences 12 and older. There will also be a raffle for high school students. For free tickets, visit tinyurl.com/SJCFentanyl.
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