'Killer High': Fentanyl's grip on California explored in new ABC30 docuseries

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Content Warning: This communicative contains accounts of cause use, addiction, overdose and suicide.

In 2021, ABC30 released "Killer High: The Silent Crisis", a groundbreaking documentary that exposed the rising dangers of fentanyl successful the Central Valley. Building connected the occurrence of that project, ABC30 is launching a caller docuseries that continues to travel this crisis, committing 12 months of sum to analyse its interaction connected families, schools, and communities crossed California. This is the archetypal occurrence of the caller series.

Watch the caller occurrence of "Killer High" connected Saturday astatine 9:30 p.m., lone connected ABC30.

A increasing crisis

Recent overdoses person erstwhile again placed fentanyl astatine the halfway of California's opioid epidemic. In the Central Valley, the highly potent synthetic opioid is leaving devastation successful its aftermath - affecting families, schools, and full communities.

The pills are often designed to look harmless, colorful, oregon adjacent candy-like. But inside, authorities warn, tin beryllium a lethal dose.

A caller reality

Law enforcement and wellness officials accidental fentanyl is changing the look of addiction.

Dean Cardinale, a Fresno constabulary narcotics detective, described what he's seen connected metropolis streets.

"We present person full-blown fentanyl addicts," helium said. "They're expanding the magnitude successful the pills to provender the habit... it tin instrumentality 8 boxes of Narcan conscionable to bring idiosyncratic back."

Lisa Smittcamp, Fresno County District Attorney, added, "The cartels are putting fentanyl successful everything. They're putting it successful pulverization cocaine, methamphetamine. People who person utilized different drugs for years are present addicted to fentanyl, sometimes without adjacent realizing it."

In the 12 period play from October 2023 to September 2024, California mislaid an estimated 5,182 radical to fentanyl overdoses. That's 1 and a fractional times much than conscionable 5 years earlier and 48 times higher compared to 10 years ago. Fresno, Madera, Merced, Tulare, Kings and Mariposa counties reported 180 deaths combined.

Families and schools connected the beforehand lines

The grief of families is fueling advocacy. Parents who person mislaid children accidental the strategy inactive isn't doing enough.

"That's unfathomable for me, to beryllium lasting present astir 4 years later, and not a damn happening has been done," said Matt Capelouto, portion lasting successful beforehand of the authorities capitol successful Sacramento. Capelouto mislaid his girl to fentanyl poisoning.

In response, schools are stepping up. In 2023, Central Unified announced each mediate and precocious schoolhouse has Narcan successful each classroom; a instrumentality that tin reverse overdoses if utilized successful time.

Awareness campaigns are besides making an impact.

"When you screen this with each class, freshmen done seniors, the connection is resonating," Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni said.

Washington Union sophmore Ameera Abughazalh said 1 assembly near her shaken.

"Seeing the ma similar that, crying, broke my heart," she said. "I would ne'er privation my parents to spell done that."

Recovery and resolve

For those who survived, the combat is daily. Howie Piper, a antheral successful recovery, remembers the wake-up telephone that changed his life.

"I woke up successful a concern I ne'er thought I would - the idiosyncratic adjacent to maine wasn't live anymore," helium said. "That was the wake-up call. Why this person? Why not me?"

Now, 7 years sober, he's turned to work enactment to support himself grounded.

"Service enactment keeps maine sober," helium said. "You can't support what you person if you don't springiness it away."

He and others successful betterment are gathering assemblage programs to dispersed awareness, supply support, and springiness radical a spot wherever they won't beryllium judged.

Moving forward

California voters precocious approved Proposition 36, giving prosecutors the quality to prosecute tougher charges - adjacent execution - against fentanyl dealers. It marks a caller ineligible tool, though families reason it's lone 1 portion of a larger puzzle that includes prevention, education, and treatment.

Smittcamp says her ngo is simple.

"Fentanyl is the astir unsafe cause immoderate of america successful instrumentality enforcement person ever seen," she said. "It volition termination you. It tin termination you. The astir important happening we tin bash is forestall radical from ever starting."

If you oregon idiosyncratic you cognize is struggling with thoughts of suicide, assistance is available. Call oregon substance the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 to link with a trained counselor, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Support is escaped and confidential.

"Killer High" continues to research these stories successful extent - from grieving families to those who lived done the nightmare and recovered recovery. Watch the afloat programme for the implicit representation of the combat against fentanyl successful California.

For afloat sum connected our docuseries, "Killer High," spell here.