A local high school class got a visit from U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy and a former prescription drug addict on Monday as part of a national campaign to raise awareness about heroin and prescription drug abuse.
As part of National Heroin and Opioid Awareness Week, between Oct. 18-Oct. 24, U.S. Attorney’s across the nation will work with schools to raise awareness about the deadly addiction.
Sophomores from the Academy of Health and Medical Sciences at Clairemont High School have been working to apply what they learn inside the classroom to real-world situations. Monday’s visit was to help students gain better insight into the issue in hopes of putting them on-track to combat it.
Students watched “Chasing the Dragon,” a video documenting the lives of people who became addicted to prescription drugs and heroin. Mark Gagarin also shared his own 12-year long struggle with drug addiction which began when he was in high school.
“At 28-years old, I was 130 pounds—no job, no healthy relationships; no vision for my life and pretty much toward the end of what I thought was going to be the end of my life,” Gagarin said.
According to officials from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, addiction to prescription drugs and opioids claims the lives of 46,000 people every year—more than car crashes or gun violence.
"These painkillers--people will tell you who have gone through addiction are the most addictive drug that they have ever used," said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy.
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Gagarin said once you’re hooked on the drugs, it’s difficult to stop.
“I was a good kid. I had 2 parents who loved me and it still happened to me,” he said, adding that, “It got worse and worse and I became the person I never wanted to be.”
On Monday, Gagarin brought his message to students, aspiring to work on the front lines in the fight against drug addiction.
“I was in somewhat of a delusion that I wasn't hurting anybody and that my life was okay,” he said. “And the reality of the situation was it was a mess but I was really unable to see that.”
Gagarin told NBC 7 that if his story could help anyone stay away from that kind of lifestyle, then he would help.
At the end of the presentation, students sign up for a contest by either submitting a poster or launching a social media campaign that focuses on the dangers of misusing prescription drugs.
U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy will be at Serra High School next week to continue spreading awareness.
