Fentanyl High: A Teen Filmmaker's Fight Against the Opioid Crisis

Kyle Santoro, a 19-year-old filmmaker, created the documentary "Fentanyl High" to explore teenage psychology behind substance abuse after witnessing overdoses at his high school. His film takes a peer-to-peer approach to addiction education, removing stigma and creating spaces for vulnerable conversations about why teens turn to substances.

Kyle and Dr Grover discuss his experiences making the film and what he has learned through making it:

• Kyle began the project after a classmate overdosed in a school bathroom and administrators never acknowledged the incident
• Traditional school responses to substance use often involve punishment and shame rather than compassion and understanding
• Several teens who participated in making the documentary achieved sobriety through the therapeutic process of sharing their stories
• Film screenings serve as community events with resources, panel discussions, and free naloxone distribution
• Schools often resist hosting screenings due to fear of being labeled as having a drug problem
• The documentary has been screened across multiple states creating a "domino effect" of awareness in communities
• Kyle raised $75,000 to produce the film through community sponsors and organizations
• Prevention efforts need more youth representation to create effective messaging that resonates with teens
• The film emphasizes the importance of parents maintaining open communication with their teenagers

If you want to learn more about Kyle's film, visit fentanylhigh.com.

To contact Dr. Grover: ammadeeasy@fastmail.com