Parents, what should you know about fentanyl? Event in Turlock this week will have answers

This is part of a series of stories about the fentanyl crisis in Stanislaus County. Click here to ask our journalists a question.

A presentation on fentanyl in the community will be held Thursday, Oct. 12, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Turlock Junior High School as a part of a Turlock Unified School District family information night.

The event presented by the TUSD Family Resource Center will feature Jennifer Marsh of Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services and Sofia Vivo, the sister of a 14-year-old Waterford girl, Bella Vivo, who died from a counterfeit pill containing fentanyl.

It will begin with dinner, followed by the program at 6 and then “community agency tabling” at 6:30.

Everything will be in the cafeteria of the school, at 3951 N. Walnut Road, Turlock.

This comes as the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office announced last week an increase in drug-related overdose deaths throughout the county in recent weeks. On social media, the DA issued a health alert to urge people to carry naloxone — an FDA-approved drug that reverses opioid overdose.

Turlock Unified School District encourages families to use naloxone, also known as Narcan. Free Narcan will be offered Thursday.

People also are urged to call 911 right away if they see someone overdosing, regardless if Narcan was administered, and to check in with friends and family with a history of substance use disorder.

“Seek treatment for substance use disorder - call 1-888-376-6246,” TUSD says in a Facebook post announcing the family information night. To learn more, it says, call 209-529-5316 or visit the Stanislaus County Opioid Safety Coalition site StanRx.net.

This story was originally published October 9, 2023 at 4:58 PM.

Taylor Johnson

The Modesto Bee

Taylor Johnson covers education and general assignment for The Modesto Bee. Originally from Las Vegas, she received her master’s in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in New York and got her bachelor’s degree at the University of Nevada, Reno. She also previously worked as a substitute at Clark County School District.