Virtual town hall meeting addresses fentanyl crisis here

In response to recent fentanyl poisonings and overdose deaths in Placer County, Granite Wellness Centers and the Coalition for Auburn and Lincoln Youth are hosting a public virtual town hall meeting Tuesday. Tuesday's Zoom meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. is open to parents, all students in middle and high school grades and community members. "We are hosting a virtual town hall on April 13th at 6 p.m. to raise awareness about fentanyl poisonings and overdose deaths, and to share resources to prevent further loss," said Shelly Rogers, CCPS, the Granite Wellness Centers' coalition program director. "There has been so much loss and the urgency to call this town hall sadly comes on the heels of recent fentanyl poisonings and overdose among local teens as young as middle school age." Last year saw a 55-percent rise in teenage fentanyl overdoses in Placer County, as reported in last week's front-page article, "Fentanyl-related deaths on the rise," and there have been more than 12 deaths since 2020. Also reported were five suspected fentanyl deaths the last few weeks, according to county officials. In a Placer County Sheriff's Office Facebook public service announcement March 18, a former drug dealer said that street drugs laced with fentanyl are common enough that using these drugs is like "a game of Russian roulette." Tuesday's meeting focuses on how to prevent poisonings and overdose, where to access harm-reduction resources, where to get help for substance use or mental health challenges, and how to talk with teens and adults possibly at risk. Panel members will share experiences, updates and resources to raise awareness and prevent further loss. Panelists include Placer County Health and Human Services director Dr. Rob Oldham, Granite Wellness Centers' Youth Opioid Resiliency Project director Alexa Curtis, Ph.D, and Granite Wellness Centers' adolescent counselor Christian Couto. Other panelists are parents Laura Didier and Chris Didier, Placer County Sheriff's Community Services supervisor Sgt. Ty Conners, Sutter Health Local Mental Health Engagement director Jodi Nerell, LCSW, Auburn Union School Board trustee J Ross Parrelli and an Auburn high school student. The registration link is https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UJGCXIqeTOeul_2TdrPIXA.