#15: Drug use among teens is actually down but overdose deaths have spiked, doubling nationwide in 2020, largely due to the spread of counterfeit pills. In Los Angeles, a 15-year-old girl died after consuming a pill laced with fentanyl. In a surprise move, the Los Angeles Unified School District now says it will distribute Narcan, which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, to junior and senior high schools. So, how did we get here? How to LA host Brian De Los Santos explores that question and how to talk to kids about this epidemic. 

Guests:Joseph Friedman, UCLA researcher and author of a recent JAMA study on teen drug use and overdose deaths; Keegan Hamilton, who covers organized crime and the drug trade at VICE.

Correction: Alberto Carvalho’s name was mispronounced in an earlier version of this episode.

#15: Drug use among teens is actually down but overdose deaths have spiked, doubling nationwide in 2020, largely due to the spread of counterfeit pills. In Los Angeles, a 15-year-old girl died after consuming a pill laced with fentanyl. In a surprise move, the Los Angeles Unified School District now says it will distribute Narcan, which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, to junior and senior high schools. So, how did we get here? How to LA host Brian De Los Santos explores that question and how to talk to kids about this epidemic.  Guests: Joseph Friedman, UCLA researcher and author of a recent JAMA study on teen drug use and overdose deaths; Keegan Hamilton, who covers organized crime and the drug trade at VICE.
Correction: Alberto Carvalho’s name was mispronounced in an earlier version of this episode.

How to L.A. aims to drop a little knowledge about ALL the things that affect the people of Los Angeles, whether that’s something that makes our city great (tacos!) or something that we need to work on, like the alarming number of traffic collisions. We serve the curious Angeleno who wants to better connect with our city, discover the new, navigate the confusing and even drive some change along the way. 

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

How to L.A. aims to drop a little knowledge about ALL the things that affect the people of Los Angeles, whether that’s something that makes our city great (tacos!) or something that we need to work on, like the alarming number of traffic collisions. We serve the curious Angeleno who wants to better connect with our city, discover the new, navigate the confusing and even drive some change along the way. 
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.