Today's conversation is extremely important for parents to hear as we talk about how young people are being targeted by drug cartels with deadly fake prescription pills.

Clare Kramer is joined by Wendy Woolcock, the special agent in charge of the special operations division at the DEA and returning guest, Amy McCarthy, Clinical Social Worker at Boston Children's Hospital. Wendy explains the messaging and rising death toll behind the One Pill Can Kill initiative and how Mexican drug cartels are literally making a killing off fentanyl-laced pills. Wendy, Amy and Claire share how parents can protect their children and the importance of educating them about the fact that one pill can kill! 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [00:45 ] The initiative behind One Pill Can Kill and the growing fentanyl epidemic
• [02:46 ] What is a lethal amount of fentanyl and why is fentanyl the new drug of choice
• [07:51 ] The process that these fake pills are being manufactured
• [12:33 ] What do these pills look like
• [14:33 ] What can parents do to protect their children and how to have this  awkward conversations with your kid

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• We have seen two milligrams of fentanyl alone in one of these fake pills is a deadly dose of fentanyl and can kill an individual. That amount is equivalent to several pieces of salt or sugar on the end of a pencil tip. That means a very, very small amount can be lethal, hence, the statement one pill can kill.
• The DEA has found that along with the CDC that four out of 10 pills can contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. Last year, the CDC stated around 108,000 people died as a result of an unintentional overdose death.
• This is not simply a law enforcement problem, and it is definitely not a law enforcement solution. It is a unified effort that needs to be taken on by parents, schools, and leaders in our communities. And we have to educate children about this serious threat.

Resources:

 

Growing Up Drug Free: A Parent's Guide to Substance Use Prevention  

One Pill Could Kill

https://www.dea.gov/onepill

Never Thought I'd Say This Podcast with Jodie Sweeti

 

The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Awkward Conversation series are solely those of the individuals, speakers, commentators, experts and or hosts involved and do not necessarily reflect nor represent those of the production, associates or broadcaster or any of its employees. Production is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy any of the information contained in the series available for viewing. The primary purpose of this series is to educate and inform. This series does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services. This series is available for private, non-commercial use only. The production, broadcaster or its channel cannot be held accountable for all or any views expressed during this program.

 

 BIO:

Clare Kramer A graduate of NYU's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, Clare earned her BFA in just three years. While in New York, Clare appeared in numerous stage plays including one turn as Helen Keller in the stage version of "The Miracle Worker", the lead role in "Light Up the Sky" at the acclaimed Lee Strasberg Theater Institute, "Beyond Therapy" at the John Houseman Theater, and "Beginnings" at Circle in the Square. She began appearing in small and bit parts in films like In & Out and Vig. Clare first rose to attention as the hard-nosed cheerleader "Courtney" in the blockbuster hit Bring It On appearing alongside Kirsten Dunst and Eliza Dushku.

Immediately following, Clare was cast in a recurring role as "Glory", the vain hell-goddess on the television hit Buffy the Vampire Slayer which gained Clare additional acclaim as one of Buffy's most popular adversaries.Clare has worked in both major studio and independent films, the most notable being Roger Avary's feature adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' The Rules of Attraction, as well as "Lucy In the Sky" in the film D.E.B.S.. She was also cast in lead roles in The Skulls III.  

She also appeared on television in a few guest appearances on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The Random Years, and Tru Calling. She continues to work for both stage and movie roles, most recently with the horror flick The Gravedancers.

 

Clare is also active in various charities dating back to 1992 when she helped the Ohio's Recreation Unlimited and in 1993 when she served as a summer camp counselor at a YMCA camp for children with physical disabilities. During summer months from 1992 to 1997, she taught young adults with development disabilities at the Young Adult Institute in New York. She worked during the summer of 2000 at LA's Camp Laurel and participated in a 2002 bicycle race to raise money for Children International. Also in 2002, Clare rode her bicycle in the annual AIDS Ride, whereas participants ride over a seven day period that takes them from San Francisco to Los Angeles. In 2006, while on a trip to Australia and New Zealand with her husband, film producer Brian R. Keathley, Clare delivered school supplies to the small village of Tufi, Papua New Guinea.

Amy McCarthy, Amy McCarthy, LICSW, is the Director of Social Work for the Adolescent Substance Use and Addiction Program (ASAP) at Boston Children's Hospital where she provides direct clinical and programmatic support.  Additionally, Amy has extensive experience working in community based settings providing care to young people living with complex mental health needs, and their families. As the former director of the Boston-Suffolk County Family Resource Center, she worked with an abundance of community partners to ensure residents had access to vital resources to meet basic needs and beyond. Amy received her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW) from Siena College, and earned a Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) from Wheelock College. 

 

 

Ms. Wendy Woolcock is the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Special Operations Division (SOD), a premier multi-agency operational coordination and deconfliction center supporting national security and public safety. In this capacity, she leads approximately 500 personnel, with representation from 35 partner agencies, including federal and state law enforcement, the intelligence community, the Department of Defense, and foreign law enforcement counterparts. SOD uses cutting-edge strategies and technology to support drug law enforcement. The core SOD mission is to attack national and international criminal and narco-terrorism organizations by targeting their command and control communications and leadership infrastructure.

 

Prior to serving as the SAC of SOD, Ms. Woolcock served as the SAC of the DEA Office of Training. In this role, she led a staff of approximately 255 DEA and contract employees dedicated to supporting DEA training in Quantico, VA, and at several additional off-site foreign and domestic training locations. In this role, Ms. Woolcock