The Independent Cities Association’s winter conference brought together Mayors, Councilmembers, City Attorneys and City Managers from ~40 cities across Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The highlight of the conference was the panel discussion titled “Fentanyl - America's Most Dangerous Drug,” in which DEFENT founder Ahmad Hussain was among the panelists.

The Fentanyl Crisis

Fentanyl, a potent semi-synthetic opioid, is principally responsible for the staggering 110,000 overdose deaths in 20231,representing an extraordinary danger. This panel’s open collaboration and thought leadership provided vital insights for community leaders to tackle this widespread menace.

Pictured left to right: “Dr. Drew” Pinsky, Dr. Omar Latif, Ahmad Hussain and Mayor Richard Montgomery (podium)

Panel moderator Richard Montgomery, former mayor of Manhattan Beach, and the current President of the Independent Cities Association deftly led an engaging and informative discussion on the opioid crisis. This issue is vital to Montgomery’s Manhattan Beach community: In the South Bay region of Los Angeles, where Manhattan Beach is located, there have been 815 fentanyl overdose deaths since 2016, marking it as the region with the third-highest volume of such cases among all designated LA County Health Service Areas2. Montgomery's desire to draw attention to the dangers of fentanyl in this forum underscores his commitment. His concern signified an understanding that tackling opioid-related deaths needs concerted efforts at the municipal level, requiring a proactive approach and demanding immediate attention.

Giving context to the dire state of the situation at hand, Dr. Omar Latif, Chief Medical Officer at Elevance Health, with an extensive 20-year background in medicine, shared the chilling insight he uncovered in his research on fentanyl via this compelling assessment:  

“The rates of comorbidities, medical costs, and deaths from fentanyl overdoses are not just rising; they are accelerating like a roller coaster climbing toward its peak. This increase is so rapid and severe that it surpasses expectations, continually worsening with no end in sight."

Dr. Latif's characterization of a dramatically increasing problem that urgently needs action. But as physical and economic casualties continue to rise, it begs the question: Who is at risk?

Who is at Risk

Ahmad highlighted the sobering reality: fentanyl's impact is indiscriminate, affecting individuals across all demographics. The crisis is marked by a devastating increase in youth fatalities, higher death rates among older adults, and severe consequences for blue-collar workers. This broad spectrum of affected groups underscores the challenges inflicted by fentanyl, cutting across age and socioeconomic status3. The need for strategic action to safeguard vulnerable groups, particularly our youth, cannot be overemphasized.

“These aren’t drug addicts; they’re kids,” Dr. Drew Pinsky, the acclaimed media personality and addiction medication expert, stated when describing youth accessibility to drugs via social media. “Young people interact with each other on Snapchat, which is the most significant perpetrator on social media for people who want to get drugs into the hands of kids.” The danger is driven home when looking at shocking DEA data released from 2023 - seven out of every ten pills that are seized by the DEA, which are commonly the same counterfeit pills sold on social media, contain a lethal dosage of fentanyl4. Dr. Drew warned that without action, “the rate of increase in deaths amongst young people who are just abusing substances, not addicts, is extraordinary and is going to continue to be so.”

Despite the daunting challenges imposed by the opioid epidemic, hope exists through the adoption of available solutions. Naloxone HCL, a life-saving drug known more commonly by its trade name Narcan, readily available in community centers across LA County, is crucial in reversing the effects of overdoses. However, there's a pressing need to complement this reactive approach with proactive measures. Ahmad advocated for a shift towards informed decision-making, emphasizing the importance of always testing substances before use. In his summary statement, he called for community leaders to convey a critical message:

“My message today is to gain support from community leaders to help spread the message that anytime someone is going to experiment, anytime someone buys a prescription drug that they think is safe, they should always test.” 

Closing

Ahmad and our entire DEFENT team were privileged to participate in this important conference and share vital information among community stakeholders. We look forward to participating next year but want to remind readers that the journey toward safer communities begins with informed action and collective effort.

Join Our Community: Be part of a growing movement dedicated to turning the tide against the opioid epidemic. For the latest updates on DEFENT, educational content, and additional resources, visit DEFENT.com and follow @defentofficial on Instagram and LinkedIn. Your support can amplify our reach and impact, bringing us one step closer to a world where the devastating effects of fentanyl are a thing of the past.

Let's make next year's conference a landmark event in our collective fight against the opioid crisis!

Pictured left to right: Joe Buscaino, Dr. Omar Latif, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Amad Hussain, Junaid Mohiuddin, Eric Bevan

References

1 Mann, Brian, et al. “In 2023 Fentanyl Overdoses Ravaged the U.S. and Fueled a New Culture War Fight.” NPR, NPR, 28 Dec. 2023, www.npr.org/2023/12/28/1220881380/overdose-fentanyl-drugs-addiction#:~:text=In%202023%20the%20overdose%20death,for%20Disease%20Control%20and%20Prevention. 

2 SAPC. Data Report: Fentanyl Overdoses in Los Angeles County, publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/MDU/SpecialReport/FentanylOverdosesInLosAngelesCounty.pdf. Accessed 27 Feb. 2024. 

3 “United States Drug Enforcement Administration.” One Pill Can Kill | DEA.Gov, www.dea.gov/onepill. Accessed 27 Feb. 2024. 

4 Van Dam, Andrew. “The Depressing Relationship between Your Job and Your Odds of Drug ...” The Washington Post, www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/10/06/jobs-likely-to-overdose/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2024.