“The overdoses are up, while use is down – that’s the most important clue that what we are seeing is fentanyl.” Dr. Brian Hurley, the former Medical Director for Substance Abuse Prevention and Control in LA County spoke to a large audience, presenting devastating statistics on the lethal taint of fentanyl in street drugs.
The April 29, 2025 Community Action Forum took up two crucial discussion; the threat of fentanyl and the use of the antidote, naloxone. Co-sponored by the Institute for Public Strategies and the Westside Impact Project, the focus on education and harm reduction offered simple but essential education on how to keep people from dying.
Welcoming remarks were offered by Culver City Council Member Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, noted that the availability of naloxone at many Los Angeles County sites was an easy success to replicate. Dr. Hurley then offered some intimidating information about how overdose deaths were only now starting to decline after almost a decade of major increase. “We are not seeing those decreases across the board; both African American and Native American death rates are not coming down the same way, and we can project that it’s due to a lack of access [to naloxone.]”
The drug naloxone, sold under the commercial name of Narcan, is used to reverse an opioid overdose. Packaged as a nasal spray, it can be administered to someone who is unconscious. Advice was offered as to what an overdose looks like – cold or clammy skin, bluish lips or fingernails, irregular breath and pinpoint pupils – and how to do chest compressions while administering the Narcan. “It’s important not to do mouth-to-mouth, because if fentayl is involved, even the tiniest amount in their saliva could poison you, too.”
CPR and Narcan are not enough; call 911 and make sure that medical treatment is available as soon as possible.
The California “Good Samaritan” was also highlighted, noting that even if you are under 18, and drugs are present at the scene, you will not be prosecuted for calling for help.
Some breakout session sought ideas from those attending about how to get the message out, new ways to highlight the problem, and where to turn for support for those suffering from substance abuse. Everyone who attended got to leave with a kit of Narcan and fentanyl test strips – testing for any trace of fentanyl in drugs is another simple way to save lives.
Judith Martin-Straw