|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
When Jada Solis was 16, a friend’s sibling passed away due to an opioid overdose. What would simply be a traumatic incident for most became a source of motivation for her. She learned how to use a Narcan kit so that if a situation ever arises, she can help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
Solis is only one of the growing number of teens in Alameda County learning how to respond when an overdose occurs. She is also learning to be a force in the fight to end the opioid crisis in our county, with the crisis continuing to have major effects on communities across the country.
According to data from Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office, more than 5,000 Californians died due to opioid overdoses in 2020, as per the latest data available. In Alameda County, schools and communities are taking action by training students to use Narcan and teaching substance use prevention through local health programs.
The FACES Public Health Youth Corps is one of those programs that trains high school students on how they should respond to health emergencies, including opioid overdoses. This is where students like Solis learn crucial skills, including CPR, information regarding opioids, mental health first aid, and how to intervene when an overdose occurs — all key to reducing the number of opioid overdose deaths in the county, state, and nation.
With resources like this, students are armed with the information and skills they need to combat the crisis, by helping others and protecting themselves.
Beyond programs like FACES, schools in Alameda County are playing a huge role in supporting students. School health and wellness centers provide a safe, confidential space where students can get the help they need, especially when it comes to talking about substance abuse, and the risks associated with it. These centers also address the issues that often lead to substance abuse, including stress, trauma, and anxiety, and positive outlets to these issues that don’t involve taking harmful substances.
For instance, at Emerald High School (EHS) in Dublin, California, the Wellness Center is a place where students can get support from one of their wellness counselors, available to help students at any time during the school day. Students can simply send an email, scan a QR code, or simply go to the center.
Another helpful resource available at EHS and many other Alameda County high schools is the health curriculum. Most students take a health course in ninth grade, where they learn about the consequences of substance abuse, providing valuable information that many students otherwise wouldn’t have been exposed to. Without programs like these, many teens in Alameda County would lack the knowledge they need to say no to substance abuse, and if needed, overcome it.
The opioid crisis is a heavy topic, and sometimes learning, hearing, and talking about it may seem overwhelming for some teens. But, we never know when this information might be critical. Though no one expects to face these situations, whether it’s struggling with opioids or witnessing someone experience an overdose, being informed and prepared can save lives.
From learning how to use Narcan, to spreading awareness, Alameda County’s youth are showing that change starts with them.
This article was written as part of a program to educate youth and others about Alameda County’s opioid crisis, prevention and treatment options. The program is funded by the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department and the grant is administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation.
