Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda revealed that the state is joining the “Aléjate de las drogas, el fentanilo te mata” (Stay Away from Drugs, Fentanyl Kills) campaign that aims to prevent Baja Californian youth from taking drugs.
This campaign was created by the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
National campaign against fentanyl aims to prevent addictions from spreading among Baja Californian youth
Governor Marina del Pilar underscored that this initiative aims to prevent all addictions, especially ones concerning fentanyl, a substance that seriously harms those who take it. That’s why Baja California is joining the fight against drugs through a collective and coordinated effort.
“Preventive activities will begin in secondary schools on January 13 and in high schools on February 4. Teachers will use a guide designed to address issues such as drugs, health effects, and preventive strategies in sessions that will take place two to three times a week during nine weeks,” she explained.
She explained that this strategy will reach over 345,000 students in 1,125 private and public schools in Baja California with the support of more than 26,000 teachers. Nationwide, this campaign will reach 11.8 million students.
The governor said that the fundamental pillars of this campaign are prevention and assistance to raise awareness in young people about the dangers of fentanyl, promoting self-care, and strengthening individual and community well-being. All of this is part of the global peace strategy implemented by the federal government, developed also by state and municipal governments.
Governor Marina del Pilar also said that the health industry will provide comprehensive assistance, prioritizing mental health and people’s well-being through hospitals, community centers, and brigades all across the state.
“This initiative is part of the 100 promises made by President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration and boosts comprehensive health within the framework of the New Mexican School, promoting healthy eating, physical activities, and rejection of drugs in classrooms,” she underscored.
Training and Psychological Counseling in Schools
Baja California’s Secretary of Health Adrián Medina Amarillas revealed that nearly 50,000 basic, middle, and high school education students were trained in 2024 regarding prevention matters. Plus, 120,000 psychological counseling sessions were offered in schools, public spaces, and workspaces.
“We also gave 1,200 awareness talks for parents and teachers, using schools as meeting points and we carried out 35,000 student screenings, detecting that more than 10% were high risk due to environments that predisposed them to diseases related to addictions,” the official said.
This campaign encompasses the spreading of messages, informational videos, and access to the Lifeline, available at the following number 800-911-2000 and the website https://www.gob.mx/lineadelavida. These resources emphasize the dangers of fentanyl, a substance that can be lethal even when taken for the first time.
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