ONE PILL CAN KILL: The Fentanyl Poisoning Crisis
- Overdoses and drug poisonings are now the leading cause of death in Americans ages 18 – 45, per the CDC. Illicit fentanyl is responsible for the majority of those deaths. This is both a national and local crisis.
- Fentanyl IS in Hastings. Illicit fentanyl is laced in pills looking like pharmaceutical drugs such as Xanax, Percocet, Adderall, etc. It’s also cut into heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana.
- Youth & young adults buy pills through social media, such as SnapChat, not knowing they’re buying deadly fentanyl. Naloxone (Narcan) can counteract opioid overdoses if used quickly.
- In 2022, the United Way of Hastings, in collaboration with multiple community and national organizations, began presenting educational events to:
- Raise awareness
- Reduce the stigma of overdoses
- Provide resources
Everyone must play a role to impact the fentanyl poisoning crisis.
Car Crash Deaths vs OD / Symptoms of OD Flyer
(designed by Hastings teens)
2023
2023 UWH Annual Giving Appeal
9/19/23 Back to School: What Every Parent Needs to Know About Fentanyl Poisoning
9/19/23 Event Video Coming Soon
7/13/23 Illicit Fentanyl: As Easy As Ordering a Pizza
Speakers
Laura Carlisle, MA, LADC
Addiction Services Counselor
Allina Health – Hastings Regina Campus
Mari E. Mellick, CAE
Executive Director
United Way of Hastings
5/4/23 Friends Fighting Against Fentanyl
Speakers
Kathy Keena, Dakota County District Attorney
Bryan Hermerding, Captain, Commander, Dakota County Drug Task Force
Young people from the Hastings area
Also attending:
Justin Thomas, Allina Health, licensed alcohol and drug counselor
Tiffany Neuharth, RiseUp Recovery co-founder
Speakers
US Senator Amy Klobuchar
US Representative Angie Craig
Dakota County Sheriff Joe Leko
Change the Outcome Colleen Ronnei
2022
2022 UWH Annual Giving Appeal
12/1/22 Protect Your Family from Illicit Fentanyl: Resources & Options
Speakers
Bryan Hermerding, Captain, Commander, Dakota County Drug Task Force
Dave Wilske, Hastings Police Chief
Justin Thomas, Allina Health, licensed alcohol and drug counselor
Jane Neumiller-Bustad, Helping Kids Succeed program manager for UWH
Tiffany Neuharth, RiseUp Recovery co-founder
11/10/22 Fentanyl Poisoning & Why I Should Care: Local Update
Speakers
United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents
Bryan Hermerding, Captain, Commander, Dakota County Drug Task Force
5/10/22 Signs of Drug Use & How to Talk to Your Kids
Speakers
Ann Lindberg, ISD 197 Chemical Health Director, Intermediate ISD 197 Chemical Health Coordinator
Whitney Rinowski, Hastings police officer, Community Engagement Officer
5/3/22 Fentanyl Poisoning & How it Impacts My Family & Community
Speakers
Bryan Hermerding, Captain, Commander, Dakota County Drug Task Force
Members of the Dakota County Drug Task Force
Justin Thomas, Allina Health, licensed alcohol and drug counselor
Tiffany Neuharth, RiseUp Recovery co-founder
4/26/22 The Fentanyl Crisis and Why I Should Care
Speakers
Special guest – Amy Neville, national speaker and founder of the Alexander Neville Foundation
Bridgette Norring, Hastings mom
Bryan Hermerding, Captain, Commander, Dakota County Drug Task Force
Bryan Schafer, Hastings Police Chief
Drew Cooper, Hastings High School counselor
Jacob Willers, Hastings police officer, School Resource Officer
Joe Leko, Dakota County Sheriff
Justin Thomas, Allina Health, licensed alcohol and drug counselor
Topics Included:
- What is illicit fentanyl and why are fentanyl poisonings rising so significantly?
- How counterfeit pills are produced and distributed.
- Why young people are at higher risk of fentanyl poisoning.
- How social media and the internet contribute to the risks and make obtaining illicit drugs as easy as ordering a pizza.
- The danger of counterfeit prescription pills.
- Signs of an opioid overdose and what you can do.
- What law enforcement is doing in the Hastings area, Dakota County, and the state of Minnesota.
- Steve’s Law and other legislation affecting community members.
- What is Narcan and how to use it.
- Creating an “exit plan” to help your child, teen, or young adult know what to do if they are pressured to take a pill or use drugs.
- Reducing the stigma of overdoses and poisonings.
- Support for students in Hastings.
- Alternatives to substance use when faced with stress, trauma, or other challenging situations.
- How to reach out for help for yourself or others.
- What does addiction treatment look like, how substance use disorder is diagnosed, and what services are insurance eligible.
- Treatment options and other resources.
