Heartbreak in the Heartland: Addressing The Fentanyl Crisis in the Midwest

#SmashingTheStigma doesn’t just mean inspirational Facebook posts and advocacy. In order to truly change the path of addiction in our country, we must proactively educate ourselves about what is actually happening nationwide — even when we don’t want to look.?

I’m based in Oklahoma, and fentanyl is taking our region by storm: In 2019, we saw 47 fentanyl overdose deaths; by 2022 that number was already over 300. So many of you are seeing similar trends in your own communities.

What those numbers don’t necessarily reveal are the number of overdose deaths that are actually fentanyl poisonings — unintentional ingestion of fentanyl that proves to be fatal. For example, we recently saw a 17-year-old in Tulsa die because he picked up a joint that happened to be laced with fentanyl. In the face of that kind of insidiousness, our local police and state police can only do so much.

Changing the Tide

Truly changing the tide, though, will require all of us to change our mindset — recognizing that it is not a criminal or moral issue. We must treat this like the mental health crisis that it is.?

(Of course, I’m not insinuating that drug traffickers and dealers deserve a free pass. Justice will deal with them; but, the lives in danger are those of the ones who are sick, not evil.)

If fentanyl use is a moral issue, it’s that much harder to overcome. Moral identity — believing you are a “good” or “bad” person — is largely a static state, and harder for those struggling to shift. Making it clear that this is a sickness rather than a state of being makes it easier for users to understand that help and hope exist.

Into Action

For that reason, our team has been traveling throughout our state to bring fentanyl overdose awareness events to schools, municipalities, church groups, and more — anyone that will have us. We also are working to get Narcan into every single classroom. We are asking our industry colleagues like you to let us know: How can we help drive change in your community?

At this stage, we can all agree that we need more awareness. We’re all aware that there is a crisis, but why? Who is it most affecting? Let’s remove the punitive perspective and show more understanding to those whose lives are on the line in order to save them. Have compassion. Help someone get connected with resources. Reach out to someone who is struggling. So much of that is what we do in this industry every day.?

But remember: All of the concern, empathy, and outrage in the world isn’t enough to turn this around. Educate yourself about fentanyl in your own community and the real roots of the mental health crisis. It is only from there that true change is possible.