School & Community Program

The drug landscape has changed dramatically in just the last few years, with fentanyl and fake prescription pills creating unprecedented risks for young people. But schools and community organizations have a unique ability to protect youth through education and empowerment.  

From our short film for teens and discussion guides to our toolkits and peer mentorship programs, we've developed research-based resources and practical tools to help you reach your teens and young adults effectively. Here's how in five simple steps: 

Step 1. Know the Facts

Understanding these key facts about fentanyl and fake pills will help you communicate their dangers and protect the youth in your care: 

  • WIDESPREAD RISK: Nearly half of U.S. teens don't know that deadly fentanyl is commonly hidden in fake prescription pills 

  • LETHAL AMOUNT: Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl—about a few grains of salt—can be lethal 

  • PERFECT FAKES: Fake pills are made to look exactly like real prescription medications but often contain lethal amounts of fentanyl 

  • EASY ACCESS: These counterfeits are frequently sold through social media and can be found anywhere, including in schools 

  • EDUCATION WORKS: Recent data shows that students who learn about these dangers are significantly less likely to experiment with pills 

Step 2. Screen Our Short Film

Our film Real Talk About Fake Pills is a powerful 20-minute educational resource, ideal for a class lesson or assembly. Featuring insights from real teens and medical experts, the film covers: 

  • The realities of fentanyl and fake pills in today's drug supply 

  • Practical advice to stay safe, including our "No Random Pills" message 

  • How to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose 

The film comes with educator-developed discussion guides to help you lead impactful conversations. Thanks to support from state partners, access is currently covered for schools in California and Oregon. Schools in other states can contact us to learn more. 

Step 3. Get Other Tools You Can Use

Choose the toolkit that matches your needs: 

  • Middle/High School Toolkit: Turn-key lesson plans, discussion guides and activities developed by educators.

  • College Toolkit: Campus-specific materials tailored to meet the unique challenges of university environments.

Step 4. Foster a Peer-to-Peer Program 

Empower students to lead the way in protecting their peers. Our Peer-to-Peer Program provides resources and support to help students spread awareness through campus clubs, social media outreach, tabling events, and more. We'll help you build student leaders who can share this critical information in ways that resonate with their classmates. 

Step 5. Share Your Impact 

Let us know how you're using these resources—it helps us create more tools and shows our donors the impact of their support. 

Need Help Getting Started? 

Contact us at realtalk@songforcharlie.org—we're here to assist you with creating a plan that will help protect youth from fentanyl and fake pills.