Growing up as a student in the 21st century means being surrounded by assemblies, videos, and warnings about the dangers of drugs. After a while, it’s easy to believe you have heard it all and won’t get pressured into doing something out of your comfort zone. But the truth is, even with all the knowledge we may be given in the world, we are still young. We make mistakes. And sometimes, one mistake is all it takes to cost a life. Fentanyl has taken thousands of lives and it continues to steal people with real futures from their families and goals every day. 

   Recently, Bloomfield Hills High School welcomed the Fentanyl Fathers to speak to our entire school about the danger of fentanyl poisoning and the catastrophic effects it can have on many. I’ll admit, I was hesitant about the lesson at first as I walked down to the auditorium. I assumed it would be another one of those talks about how drugs are dangerous. But I was wrong. The second they shared that 279 Americans die every single day from fentanyl poisoning, something clicked with me. That number is unimaginable and represents more than half of my grade. All because of one decision. One moment. One tiny grain that someone never knew was ever there.

   Our lives are without a doubt the most essential thing that we are given in this world. We often forget that when we are cramming for a test, worrying about an assignment, or rushing to make it to an appointment on time. The chance to grow, to learn, and to become someone we are proud of is a gift. And whether you find warmth in your family, friends, or community, your life matters deeply. If you wouldn’t let your closest friend, sibling, parent, or guardian give their life up by making a simple mistake, why risk yours?

   Hearing the emotion and words the presenters had to say about their lost children and siblings stuck with me. Their grief was real and their stories were real. It gave me a new perspective on why we are here and forced me to think about how fragile every single moment we spend together is. It also opened my eyes to the crucial aspect of educating those around us about the life-threatening consequences of fentanyl. It must be done in a non-shaming, non-lecturing way, but as a way to protect. We, as students, are only given one chance…one life to make it how we want to be. It is up to us to prevent another statistic, another tragedy, another “he or she could have been.”

  Every single person you meet has something special about them. Even the quiet ones, the ones you do not know well. Everyone has a future worth looking out for. Allowing one ignorant choice to end one’s life is something we cannot allow, which is what made the Fentanyl Fathers presentation unforgettable. Not just the statistics, not just the warnings, but the reality that the people who spoke lived through with their loved ones. They stood in front of us to make sure none of us became the story they have to tell. Their pain became my wakeup call, and it is up to us to protect the futures we still have.