Killer High: The Silent Crisis
Introduction
Killer High: The Silent Crisis explores the growing impact of fentanyl and opioid addiction on young people in Fresno, California. Through the stories of grieving families, law enforcement, and medical professionals, the documentary reveals how quickly addiction and overdose can devastate a household — often before parents even realize something is wrong.
The film places a particular focus on the experiences of parents who lost their children to fentanyl poisoning, sharing deeply personal accounts in hopes of warning other families about the dangers of the fentanyl crisis and the impact it is having on youth. Alongside these stories are the perspectives of frontline workers responding to overdoses every day, many of whom believe education and awareness are critical in a crisis that cannot be solved through enforcement alone.
The US Fentanyl Crisis
Youth overdose deaths rose sharply between 2018 and 2020, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl playing a major role. Many young people were unknowingly exposed through counterfeit pills and contaminated substances, including drugs circulating on social media. While recent data shows some stabilization in youth overdose trends, fentanyl remains a leading driver of fatal overdoses among adolescents and young adults, making prevention and early intervention critical.
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Quotes
"The pandemic has created another health crisis – mental health professionals say they're seeing a significant rise in substance and alcohol abuse linked to COVID."1
"These are drugs that are wonderful and that is what is scary about it. I've heard kids say, I never want to not feel like this again, that's a powerful statement."2
"There are high school and younger age kids that seek out fentanyl. They know exactly what it is, they know exactly what high it gives them and that’s what they crave. That’s what they want and that’s what they’re going after."
"It was an argument to get him to come out of his room and engage with the family and unplug from social media. It got to the point of expulsions and then we realized that drugs were becoming a bigger part of our lives, something that we never thought that we would have in our life."
"More kids die two doors down and in their own beds from mom and dad than they do on the streets. That’s where we’re finding them – with their headsets still on, Xbox going, eyes rolled back in their head and a white foamy substance coming out of their mouth. And at that point they are gone."
"Our [Parents & Addicts in Need] hope there is that these parents come out of there knowing that they're not alone. Most families think they're the only family that is going through this and they're not. There are more families going through this than anybody realizes."
"This is our way of trying to let the public know what's going on ... if one board saves one life, I guess then, you know, it's all worth it."
"We all want to be validated on the good work that we believe we're doing, so the sense of validation that we receive from the likes of families, of victims, it just gives kind of the concrete resolution to us that we are making a difference, we are being impactful and we're on the right track."
1 During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers reported sharp increases in overdose deaths and substance use across the United States. Contributing factors included social isolation, economic stress, disrupted treatment access, and worsening mental health conditions, while CDC survey data found that 13% of Americans reported starting or increasing substance use as a way of coping with pandemic-related stress.
2 Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to addiction because the brain’s reward system develops earlier than regions responsible for impulse control and decision-making. Researchers have found that addictive substances can overstimulate dopamine pathways in the developing brain, increasing the risk of long-term substance use disorders.
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Brenda H.
BA Psych, Grad. Cert. Addictions & Mental Health
Driven by a deep personal connection to these topics, I created AMH Resources to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and everyday support. I watch, read, and summarize a wide range of free resources to help you navigate the overwhelming amount of information available and find what resonates with your journey.