City of Long Beach to Host Youth-Led Opioid Awareness Showcase October 18
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Long Beach, CA ~ Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) Harm Reduction Program, in collaboration with the Youth Leadership Institute (YLI), is set to host a Youth Opioid Awareness Showcase at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library on Saturday, October 18, 2025. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is free for all ages to attend.

The theme of the showcase is "Hear Us: Help Each Other and Redirect" and will focus on education, advocacy, and youth-developed solutions to address the ongoing opioid crisis. Mayor Rex Richardson expressed his support for the event, stating that "young people are leading the way in reshaping how we respond to the opioid epidemic." He commended their courage, clear solutions, and commitment to ending stigma.

The highlight of the showcase will be a presentation by seven youth participants from the Youth Opioid Awareness Campaign. They will share their artwork and discuss the creative process behind their projects. Attendees can also expect to see original zines and a youth-led social media campaign aimed at informing and engaging their peers.

Residents are encouraged to register online for the event, although registration is not required to attend. The showcase marks the culmination of Long Beach's Youth Opioid Awareness Campaign, which was launched in March 2025 in response to the rising number of opioid-related overdoses in the city.

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Over the past seven months, youth participants have delved into understanding the impacts of opioids in their communities. They have also led three focus groups to share their perspectives and designed original zines that blend storytelling with harm reduction strategies. Additionally, they launched a social media campaign that reached approximately 35 Long Beach youth.

According to Health and Human Services Director Alison King, involving young people in addressing the opioid crisis provides critical insights that traditional approaches often miss. She believes that their involvement has led to the development of forward-thinking policies that are grounded in the lived experiences of those most affected by the crisis. This, in turn, enables the creation of sustainable and community-focused solutions.

The Youth Opioid Awareness Campaign and Showcase were made possible by the California Opioid Settlements fund. This fund was established to provide resources to cities and counties for addressing the opioid crisis in California. More information on the California Opioid Settlements can be found at oag.ca.gov/opioids.

For more information on the Youth Opioid Awareness Showcase, please visit longbeach.gov/harmreduction. The event promises to be an informative and engaging experience for all attendees as Long Beach continues its efforts to combat the opioid crisis with youth-led solutions.

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