The fentanyl crisis isn’t just an outlying issue. It’s hit close to home, claiming the lives of young people across local communities. On March 14, a large crowd gathered at the historic Guild Theater in Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood for an evening screening of Fentanyl High—a powerful student-produced documentary that explores the devastating impact of fentanyl on teens and families. Events like this bring the conversation out of the shadows and into the open, where education, awareness, and action can begin. Because when students lead the way, entire communities are more likely to listen and respond.
Kyle Santoro directed the film when he was a Los Gatos High School student. His work has sparked meaningful conversations across the nation. The screening was followed by a panel discussion featuring Santoro (now a college student) and local leaders in public health and education. Audience members also received Narcan, a medication that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
At the event, Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon emphasized the urgency of the crisis. “Your presence here speaks volumes about our community’s commitment to keeping our young people safe,” he said. “We are facing an epidemic. In 2020, nearly 4,000 of California’s 5,500 opioid overdose deaths were fentanyl related. These are not just numbers. These are our students, our children, our neighbors.”
The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) Superintendent credited SCOE’s Prevention and Early Intervention department, the Sacramento County Opioid Coalition, and Santoro for “shining a light” on the crisis. Additional partners included the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society, Omni Youth Programs, and Sacramento County. “Through education, awareness, and prevention, we can save lives. Events like this—where we come together to learn and take action—are critical,” Superintendent Gordon said.
Santoro, whose film has now been screened more than 100 times nationwide, called it a form of “social hack”—a strategic way to unite schools, nonprofits, and agencies for collective impact. “You’re not just watching a film,” he said. “You’re creating an opportunity to change perspectives, distribute resources like Narcan, and spark action.”
He emphasized the importance of teen-to-teen communication. “There’s nothing that resonates with teenagers as well as other teenagers talking about the issue,” Santoro said. His motivation for the film came from personal experience. “We had people overdose on our high school campus,” he explained. “Seeing so many teens self-medicating pushed me to ask ‘Why?’ and use filmmaking to find answers.”
Santoro shared that some of the teens featured in the documentary are now sober, and that the project is evolving to include educational tools. “We just completed the study guide, which will be distributed with the film to high schools for classroom discussion.”
His message to parents was clear: “Maintain an open line of communication with your child at any age. If they don’t receive validation at home, they’ll go looking for it in other places—and that can be dangerous.”
Santoro also offered encouragement to teens. “You are valued and appreciated. Be comfortable with being yourself and don’t give in to peer pressure. Confidence comes from having strong relationships with people who love and support you.”
The March screening and discussion underscored SCOE’s continued commitment to prevention and community collaboration in the face of the opioid epidemic. The goal wasn’t just to inform, but to save lives.
About SCOE’s Prevention and Early Intervention Department
The Prevention and Early Intervention Department provides programs, services, and professional learning opportunities that address a variety of youth development and prevention education topics. Positive youth development, school safety, violence prevention, suicide prevention, social–emotional learning, substance abuse prevention, and mental health promotion are some of the focus areas. The department provides workshops and professional development opportunities throughout the year.
Related Resources
- Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Services: (916) 974-9754
- California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard
- CDC: Overdose Prevention