“Fentanyl High” a Documentary Film

“Fentanyl High” a Documentary Film

Thursday, May 2, 7pm

Free, but tickets required. Check back for an update on how to obtain tickets.

Join local educators and healthcare professionals to view Fentanyl High, a documentary film,  to raise awareness about the devastating impact of fentanyl poisoning on teenagers and to empower teens and their families with knowledge on how to address this urgent issue through a documentary film screening and panel discussion.

Santa Cruz Community Health (SCCH), Santa Cruz County Office of Education (COE) and local school districts will co-host a free community viewing of “Fentanyl High,” a poignant documentary film, on Thursday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz. The film was produced by LC2 Productions and directed by Kyle Santoro, a Los Gatos High School senior.

“This powerful documentary directly speaks to the new reality and tragic statistic that drug overdoses and fentanyl poisoning are now the third leading cause of pediatric deaths in the United States,” said Kristen O’Connor, RN, Addiction Program Director at SCCH. “The goal of this screening is to educate and empower teens to prevent deaths in Santa Cruz County and to give families hope if their teenager struggles with substance use, including resources for evidence-based treatment.” 

“Fentanyl High” is filmed from the perspective and experiences of high school students, providing an intimate look into why teens are succumbing to fentanyl poisoning and what actions teens and their families can take to combat it. Through candid interviews and first-hand accounts, the film sheds light on the complexities of the opioid crisis gripping our youth.  

“Families will leave the event with concrete steps for both prevention and support around this issue,” said Dr. Heather Thomsen, a school-based health manager at Santa Cruz County Office of Education,. “We will be providing parents and caregivers ‘Let’s Talk’ booklets and tip sheets identifying the signs of an overdose. School nurses will be passing out free Narcan, a lifesaving medication, at the end of the event.” 

Admission is free and attendance by teens is encouraged. Immediately following the screening, a discussion panel featuring local professionals and high school peers will take place, inviting audience participation to deepen understanding and engagement with the film’s themes and implications.

“We are honored to co-host the screening of ‘Fentanyl High’ as part of our ongoing commitment to adolescent health and well-being,” said Nadia Al-Lami, PNP, the Adolescent Health Director at SCCH. “We are dedicated to building capacity across the tri-county area for youth access to treatment for opioid use disorder. Through collaborative efforts and evidence-based interventions, we are striving to be part of the solution to the opioid crisis affecting our youth.” 

SCCH has been working to create an adolescent-friendly clinic environment, ensuring teens receive the support and resources they need. Recent initiatives include training the clinical team to provide sensitive services, conducting psychosocial and mental health screenings, and connecting patients to appropriate resources. 

For more information about the screening event or SCCH’s adolescent health initiatives, please contact SCCHCommunications@schealthcenters.org.