This presentation will survey school and community responses to adolescent fentanyl use in King County, Washington across the continuum of care. Framed through connecting prevention to harm reduction and recovery approaches, attendees will hear about:
• Data on adolescent fentanyl use and overdose from Public Health – Seattle & King County and the Healthy Youth Survey;
• Prevention and early intervention strategies that public school can implement with students, staff, and families; and
• The role of drug prevention coalitions in diverse areas to inform communities, youth, and families about fentanyl, including public awareness campaigns.
Presenters invite questions and comments during the presentation.
OBJECTIVES
Participants will be able to:
- Describe trends related to fentanyl use and overdose in King County, in particular among adolescents
- Identify fentanyl prevention and intervention strategies focused on adolescents and their families, including those based within the schools
- Explain the importance of partnerships and collaborations to address fentanyl use across the continuum of care
FACILITATORS
Jackie Berganio has worked for King County since 1984, in the substance use disorders field with a focus on prevention. She is currently a Project/ Program Manager III with King County Department of Community and Human Services’ Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD). She is a manager within BHRD’s Youth, Family and Prevention Section to implement the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI, coalition-based strategies to prevent youth drug use).
Lisa Davidson is the Manager of Prevention and Intervention at Seattle Public Schools. Lisa has worked with adolescents for over 25 years as a youth intervention specialist, health educator, and program manager. Since 2007, Lisa has been at Seattle Public Schools focusing on the prevention of adolescent drug use, mental health services, and sexual health education.
Laura Quinn has been with King County since 1998. She started her career as a Community Organizer, working with communities to reduce substance abuse and violence through a combination of TA and small grants. She now works with the CPWI, centered around community coalitions. She also manages the Youth Support Services Program, which funds providers to do outreach and engagement with young people in order to get them into SUD treatment and other services.
Jennifer Wyatt works for the King County Department of Community and Human Services, Behavioral Health and Recovery Division. She manages behavioral health initiatives including recovery high schools and Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) in emergency departments. Ms. Wyatt co-authored a research brief for the Washington State Health Care Authority’s Prevention Research Collaborative titled, “Bridging Prevention and Harm Reduction Strategies for Adolescent and Young Adult Substance Use” published in 2024 on the Athena Forum.