Ten key messages from S.O.U.L. regarding the opioid crisis from Elena Suarez

One of the main messages we’ve been espousing (especially targeting parents and youth) is if you use or experiment, you can die from fentanyl poisoning because everything is laced with fentanyl (one of the leading causes of death in the US today for 18 to 45 year olds). So, the idea behind the message is not to use at all! The government/non profits/NIH, are all out there with different campaigns but same message!

  1. This is a national crisis:

    look at the numbers: 108,000 in 2021 and 110,000 in 2022. COMPARE this to the American lives lost in the entire Vietnam War, which was 58,220. Or to 9/11 and Pearl Harbor, which was 3,000 lives lost each. News stations need to post the death toll everyday just like was done with COVID deaths to boost awareness.

  2. This is chemical warfare against the U.S by Mexican cartels and should be dealt with accordingly as warfare.

  3. TOUGHER LAWS for dealers (manslaughter instead of distribution) not only for justice but for protecting society and as a deterrent.

  4. More treatment centers. Treatment center improvement and longer treatment.

  5. Transparency and accountability for the “opioid epidemic” government funds! it should go into treatment facilities and not exclusively into “research”, which means it’s going back to the Pharmaceutical industry.

  6. Stop the Stigma! Stop the shame. This is a disorder and not a character defect.

  7. Fentanyl is too dangerous to use for fun. NEVER USE ALONE! Even one pill can kill! If you use or experiment, you are playing with your life! It can happen to anyone. Fentanyl test strips and Narcan need to be widely available everywhere over the counter.

  8. Parents must wake up and have the tough conversations about substance use.

  9. There is a personal story behind every substance user. There are many reasons why someone turns to drugs: mental health issues, trauma, physical pain, peer pressure. We need compassion instead of judgement and most importantly, get them help!

  10. Don’t give up on your child or loved one! Lobby for involuntary treatment - The Marchman Act.

We have to remember however that the message will vary depending on the audiences; what we say to a student body at a high-school assembly will vary substantially to what we might say to the media.