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We’ve always been told to stay away from drugs. That they never do any good. That it’s better to be safe than sorry. That surrounding yourself with the wrong crowd can come at a cost.
But those words that sound like a broken record could actually save your life.
What if the one time you decide to tune out the warnings, you end up overdosing from unknown opioid exposure?
With overdose rates on the rise, how could you not have those haunting words invade your thoughts? What if that was me? What if I were poisoned?
The sad truth is, this is the case for hundreds of overdoses a year in Alameda County. In an Alameda County Health (ACH) report from April of 2025, data from the county says “deaths from polydrug overdoses (combining substances) are the fastest growing and are increasing rapidly”.
According to the county report, people are dying from the use of opioids and stimulants in combination. We can no longer take any substance for face value.
The Alameda County Behavioral Health Department (ACBHD) reports, “although Fentanyl exposure remains the leading cause of opioid related deaths in the county, other synthetic drugs such as Nitazenes and Carfentanil are nearly equal in potency and could pose a threat in the future”. Fentanyl may be the most well-known opioid at the moment; however, it is not the only one that results in deadly effects upon contact.
Because opioids are omnipresent and always a danger, the risk of overdose exponentially rises with exposure to any substance, regardless of what the packaging says. If people intentionally stop their use of recreational drugs, it can be the most effective precaution taken to ensure safety in the face of this new crisis.
Even with individual efforts to limit exposure, there’s always the possibility of meeting a stranger experiencing an overdose.
Purchasing and carrying naloxone, which can reverse an overdose, and fentanyl test strips can save a life. These items can be bought online or accessed through community centers such as police stations and clinics.
As a community, there can’t be much done to stop the lacing of opioids with other illegal drugs; however, a conscious effort can be made to protect one another from unexpected overdoses. Whether considered paranoia or precaution, taking the safe route protects you from potential overdoses from polydrug ingestion and needless, deadly situations.
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 and the grant is administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation.
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