One pill can kill, but knowledge is power was the theme of the fentanyl forum held at Notre Dame Prep in partnership with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office to provide a community forum on the fentanyl crisis. 

In 2023, the overdose death rate from fentanyl topped 112,000 in 12 months for the first time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Arizona is the epicenter with more than 50% of the nation's fentanyl seizures happening at our southern border. 

"We need to educate our community about the dangers and prevalence of fentanyl; not just in Scottsdale, but in the country," said NDP Principal Brie Dragonetti. "The tiniest amount of the drug can be lethal and we want our community to know the facts," she added. 

More than 100 citizens were in attendance along with the Mayor of Scottsdale, David Ortega; The Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors, Jack Sellers; and the Maricopa County Attorney, Rachel Mitchell. They gave statistics and promised support in the fight against the growing fatalities caused by fentanyl poisoning in our county. 

"Make no mistake, fentanyl is a poison, not a drug," warned Mitchell. "Teens deserve to learn from their mistakes, not die from them," she added in a startling talk about the prevalence of fentanyl in our community. 

 

The evening included a question-and-answer session with experts in drug trafficking, law enforcement, rehabilitation and education, and emergency medicine. Also on hand to share their stories were recovered addicts and a mother who lost her son to fentanyl poisoning. 

Topics discussed by the panel of experts included:

• Prevention
• Remedies - 
• Common ways it is given/made available to unsuspecting consumers
• How to obtain and administer Narcan
• and much more. 

The solutions that were offered came in many forms from education to better mental health. All were in agreement that we must cut off the market demand for drugs if we want the endless manufacturing and supply to stop. 

Vendors were on hand to educate and pass out life-saving Narcan, locking medication bags and literature to those in attendance. 

The forum garnered the attention of the media, see the story here.

Mr. Cannon our director of the Center of Mission and Ministry at NDP worked in conjunction with the MCAO to make this forum possible. 

See more about the evening: