(This story was originally published in The Elevator in June, 2023.)
On Tuesday, May 23rd, Oregon City High School in Oregon held a fentanyl awareness assembly. The assembly was held to address the rising danger that is quickly spreading throughout the state. Deaths from counterfeit pills made with fentanyl are sweeping the country. Teens seek out and purchase pills like OxyContin, and Percocets, and are dying from fentanyl overdose. Due to how incredibly potent fentanyl is, one single pill is enough to kill. Illegal drug producers have learned that making counterfeit pills is cheaper than making real ones. In some places, you can find and buy a pill for only 25 cents. The duplicate pills are being manufactured so well that even veteran police and drug enforcement agents find it difficult to distinguish them without a test. Now, it’s in the Oregon City community, and creating a massive problem.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is an extremely potent painkiller. It is used commonly in hospitals and available pharmaceutically by prescription. According to the CDC, fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin, and over 100 times more potent than morphine. A lethal dose of fentanyl is equivalent to 2 grains of sand. This is a large contributing factor to its mortality. Fentanyl is odorless and tasteless which makes it difficult for law enforcement to detect. When used safely and handled professionally by hospitals and pharmacies, it is simply a strong painkiller. When consumed or smoked with no idea how much is possibly contained in the pill, the outcome can be fatal.
How do people get a hold of it?
Social media has made it as simple as a few clicks to purchase a pill. Whether it is from a friend, or in the streets of downtown Oregon City. “Snapchat and Instagram are the platforms used most to buy and sell drugs.” stated officer David Plummer, a resource officer for Clackamas County. These two social media platforms are two of the most popular apps used by teenagers. However, teens are not the only group at risk. Officer Plummer explains new ways fentanyl is being manufactured to appeal to children. Illegal drug manufacturers learned new strategies and techniques to broaden their demographics. “Some pills are being made with food coloring to resemble candy,” said Plummer. A child wouldn’t know the difference. If a child came across one in their parents bedroom, or in a cupboard, they could easily mistake the small pill as a tasty piece of candy.
Fentanyl on The Rise
10 years ago, barely anyone knew what fentanyl truly was. The idea of selling counterfeit pills was nearly unheard of. Today, if a pill is purchased from a dealer, or obtained from a friend, there is a significant chance that it contains fentanyl. According to the CDC, 1,663 people died from fentanyl overdose in 2011 and began to rise in 2013. By 2016, this number rose to 18,335. In a five year span, deaths from fentanyl increased by more than 1000% This number has only grown larger. In 2022, fentanyl was attributed to the death of over 50,000 people across the nation. Anne Milgram, the Administrator of the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), released a statement saying, “Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered,” she said, “Fentanyl is everywhere. From large metropolitan areas to rural America, no community is safe from this poison.” Illegal drug producers have made it accessible for anyone who may want to try it. In 2013, a counterfeit pill could cost $20 or more. In 2023, they are sold for less than 25 cents. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, and anytime.
A Motherʻs Loss
Michelle Stroh is one of the speakers for the May assembly at Oregon City High School. She uses her story to help warn and educate the community about fentanyl. Michelle Stroh tragically lost her son, Keaton Stroh, to a fentanyl overdose in July 2020. The evening before, he acquired three pills from his friend which he believed were OxyContin pills. At roughly 3:00 AM that night, he took one of the pills. Keaton was dead in less than a minute. “The pill my son took contained enough fentanyl in it to kill 11 people.” stated Michelle. This is only one example of the thousands of lives sadly lost to fentanyl poisoning.
Michelle Stroh took her grief and turned it into action. Being elected to the Oregon City School Board, she immediately took matters into her own hands. Stroh continues to push new policies and propose innovative solutions in her efforts to help bring forth change. When asked about her motivation for fighting as hard as she does, Stroh stated, “So other families do not have to bury their child like I had to.”
The Effect on the Oregon City Police Department
With the passing of Measure 110, police work has become more difficult. Measure 110 proposed the decriminalization of minor drug possession. Making it legal to carry small amounts of illegal substances. For instance, if someone was stopped by an officer with substances in the vehicle in 2019, they could be sent to jail with a felony charge. Now, people can be let go with a simple warning. “We can’t do anything about it,” stated Officer Plummer, “We can’t touch the guy who is standing on the corner with fentanyl pills.” Plummer explains how 7 officers stood down and left the Oregon City Police Department. “Some of the guys said they don’t know what the badge truly represents now.”
Finding a Solution
Raising awareness is an important step to finding a solution. Teens are unaware of fentanyl’s deadly consequences. “There is a disconnect in kids on the severity and dangers of fentanyl,” Stroh stated, “When we do your survey’s, students across the country listed heroin as the most lethal drug out there. They equated fentanyl on the same level as nicotine, or a cigarette.” These days, most people will trust their friends more than they will trust themselves. Fentanyl has proven itself to be lethal. According to the CDC It has become the leading cause of death for adults aged 18-45 and has killed more people than COVID-19. The introduction of fentanyl has changed the drug scene forever.
