Killer High: The Silent Crisis (Fentanyl)

Introduction

This powerful documentary explores the impact that fentanyl is having on the United States, particularly on youth living in Fresno, California. You’ll learn about the opioid crisis through the eyes of the families impacted by it, the law enforcement officers who are desperately trying to get it off the streets, and the medical professionals who witness countless opioid-related overdoses and deaths.

You’ll also hear from two mothers who want to pass a very powerful message along to other parents, and you’ll see the video footage of the moment they found their children unresponsive, overdosing in their rooms. This documentary serves as an eye opener to parents with the overall message that this is not “some other family’s problem” – it is impacting many of our children and it’s extremely important for parents to learn about addiction.

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.”

“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.”

“Since the start of 2020, 69 people have died of fentanyl-related overdoses in Fresno County. 38 of them were under the age of 30, the youngest was 16 years old.“

“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.”

“You’re stuck in this conundrum of wanting them to grow and develop and be a productive member of society and turn into an adult and letting them have friendships and letting them experience how to drive and learning how to do these things that every adolescent should be going. But at the same time, they’re not okay and all this stuff is coming into play faster than you can blink.”

“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 that that point they are gone.”

“Our 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.” Parents and Addicts in Need (PAIN)

“There is such a high volume of this substance that we cannot police or prosecute our way out of this crisis, we have to educate people.”

“Narcan is an opioid reversal agent – it has no other function, you can’t get high off of it, there’s nothing. It is strictly a nasal spray and it will bring them out of their opioid with overdose if you get to it in time.”