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Changing Seasons, Lasting Choices: A Fall Reflection on Fentanyl Risk
- shawn2725
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Fall is a season of change. Trees shed their leaves, the air turns crisp, and life slows down just enough for us to notice the shift. It’s a time for bonfires, football games, and warm drinks with friends. But it’s also a moment to reflect—on the choices we make, the people we trust, and the risks we take.
This season, #Don'tRiskItAll invites you to pause and ask:
What’s worth holding onto—and what’s worth letting go?
The Quiet Danger You Can’t See
Fentanyl isn’t loud. It doesn’t come with flashing lights or warning signs. It’s a synthetic opioid so powerful that just a few grains can stop a heartbeat. And it’s showing up in places you wouldn’t expect—pressed into fake pills that look like prescription meds, passed around at parties, offered through social media, or handed off by someone you thought you could trust.
These pills are designed to deceive. They mimic OxyContin, Xanax, Adderall—but they’re counterfeit, and often deadly. According to the DEA, 6 out of 10 fake pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
Real Talk: Youth Are at Risk
Between 2019 and 2021, fentanyl-related deaths among teens more than tripled. Many of these young people weren’t addicted. They weren’t regular users. They were experimenting, coping, or just trying to fit in. One pill. One moment. One irreversible outcome.
This isn’t about scary tactics. It’s about truth. And the truth is:
You don’t have to be a “user” to be at risk. You just have to be offered the wrong pill.
What Fall Teaches Us
Fall reminds us that letting go can be powerful. Just like trees shed their leaves to survive winter, we can let go of pressure, fear, and risky choices that don’t serve us.
Here’s how to protect yourself and your friends:
Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is.
Don’t take pills unless they’re prescribed to you and filled by a licensed pharmacy.
Learn the signs of overdose: slowed breathing, unconsciousness, blue lips or fingertips.
Carry naloxone (Narcan) if you can. It’s safe, easy to use, and can reverse an opioid overdose, but remember mixing drugs like benzos and opioids can make an overdose more likely. Narcan can still help in these situations, but it will only work on opioids.
Your Story Isn’t Over
You have so much ahead—dreams, relationships, adventures. Don’t let one pill write the final chapter. This fall, choose safety. Choose truth. Choose life.
Because the most powerful thing you can do isn’t to fit in—it’s to stand strong.
Don’t risk it all. Your future matters!
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