United States Attorney Tara K. McGrath | U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Tara K. McGrath | U.S. Department of Justice
San Diego State University Women's Soccer Team Joins U.S. Attorney’s Office and City Attorney’s Office to Launch Fentanyl Awareness Campaign
August 29, 2024
SAN DIEGO—The U.S. Attorney’s Office, San Diego City Attorney’s Office, and the name, image, likeness (NIL) collective Aztec Link have launched a social media campaign featuring members of San Diego State University’s women’s soccer team to promote fentanyl awareness and overdose prevention. The campaign aligns with International Overdose Awareness Day on August 29th in San Diego County.
The initiative aims to raise awareness of fentanyl's dangers, reduce accidental use or overdose, and educate students on life-saving measures during an emergency.
U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath will be available for interviews regarding the campaign following the International Overdose Awareness Day press conference at 9 a.m. at the County Administration building on Harbor Drive.
The student-athletes appear in a video filmed at various locations on SDSU’s campus, each reciting lines about fentanyl dangers, recognizing overdose signs, and highlighting naloxone's importance (also known by the brand name Narcan).
Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal medication available as a nasal spray or injector. In California, it can be obtained from pharmacists without a prescription or through community-based distribution programs and local health departments free of charge.
This campaign uses hashtags #TeamUp #SaveLives #InternationalOverdoseAwarenessDay. The social media public service announcement can be found here: SDSU Women’s Soccer Team - Fentanyl Awareness Video.
This marks the second collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and City Attorney’s Office featuring SDSU student-athletes in partnership with an NIL collective. For this campaign, they partnered with Aztec Link, dedicated to pairing SDSU athletes with businesses for promotions while offering fans ways to support their favorite teams.
In the public service announcements, the student-athletes state:
“Our goal is to team up and save lives.
We love spending time on the field but we are also students.
Students who know that fentanyl kills.
And as a community, we need to defend ourselves from the dangers of fentanyl.
Fentanyl doesn’t care about your age or if you are just trying it for the first time.
If you are offered Adderall, Xanax, Percocet, Cocaine or any other drug not directly from a pharmacy,
It likely contains a deadly amount of fentanyl.
It’s time for us to pass on our knowledge assist our friends and confront this epidemic.
We need to spread the word about the dangers of fentanyl. It’s everywhere and in everything.
Know where Narcan is on campus such as Narcan vending machines.
Learn how to use Narcan and how to recognize the signs of an overdose
Such as losing consciousness difficulty breathing choking noises or discolored skin.
We believe in you. If you are worried about your friend overdosing and are unsure deploy Narcan and call 911.”
The campaign is being deployed over platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, LinkedIn, and YouTube by individual student-athletes Aztec Link DOJ San Diego State Athletic Department among others.
“If you are worried about a friend who may have taken fentanyl or is unresponsive call 911 administer naloxone,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath “Know how to help others When athletes educators law enforcement amplify this critical message we can save lives” McGrath thanked SDSU women soccer team for using their influence.
“We lose around 800 San Diegans every year to fentanyl,” said City Attorney Mara Elliott “While each death tragic many victims college-aged students My Office supports efforts educate peers dangers fentanyl lifesaving power Narcan This type communitywide effort required eradicate deaths.”
The Good Samaritan law California provides “…it shall not be crime person under influence possess personal use controlled substance…if person good faith seeks medical assistance another person experiencing drug-related overdose…” Cal Health Safety Code §11376 5
One year ago commemorate National Fentanyl Prevention Awareness Day US Attorneys Office City Attorneys Office partnered with SDSU men basketball team another NIL collective MESA Foundation create PSA media campaign first collaboration kind Campaign received over million impressions More information visit:
Additional resources found San Diego County Community Parent Toolkits English Spanish
US Attorneys Offices participation social media campaign Aztec Link not endorsement product service enterprise associated Aztec Link
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