Santa Clarita Parents Are Sharing Their Stories to Help Other Families
From 2020 to 2024, 75% of overdose deaths among young people ages 10 to 19 involved fentanyl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fentanyl can be found in counterfeit pills and other substances, often without the person taking them knowing it is there.
Behind these numbers are families whose lives have been forever changed. This year, the City of Santa Clarita’s Parenting for Prevention program is bringing their stories directly to our community.
Through “A Parent’s Story,” local parents who have lost children to fentanyl share deeply personal experiences about their children, the warning signs they wish they had known and what they want other parents to understand before it is too late.
Their message is simple: start the conversation now.
Parenting for Prevention gives parents practical information to help them recognize potential risks, talk with their children about drugs and alcohol and know where to turn when they need support.
This year’s campaign includes:
- “A Parent’s Story”: A short video series featuring local parents who share their experiences with fentanyl, loss and the lessons they want other families to know.
- Drug Emojis: A social media series helping parents recognize emojis, slang and other digital language that may be used to communicate about drugs.
- Parent Meetings: Two opportunities for parents to connect with experts, ask questions and learn about prevention, intervention, treatment and available resources. Dates and additional details will be announced soon.
The City, along with local partners, is also launching a new educational social media campaign designed to engage youth about the dangers of fentanyl. Through trivia questions and a virtual scavenger hunt, teens can learn critical information about fentanyl while having opportunities to win prizes, including Six Flags Magic Mountain passes and laptops. Stay tuned to the City’s social media platforms for additional details.
The goal goes beyond awareness. Parenting for Prevention is about creating a community where parents feel informed, supported and comfortable having difficult conversations with their children and with one another.
Parents do not need to have all the answers to make a difference. Recognizing the signs, asking questions and starting a conversation can be an important first step.
Throughout the campaign, videos, educational content and resources will be shared across the City of Santa Clarita’s social media platforms and through the Parenting for Prevention resource page.
Start the conversation. It could save a life.
For more information about the Parenting for Prevention program, visit SantaClarita.gov/Parents, follow @DFYinSCV on Instagram and Facebook, or contact The Community Services Office at (661) 250-3789 or yledezma@santaclarita.gov.
