Long Beach: City Launches Youth Opioid Awareness Campaign
The Californer/10307301

Long Beach, CA ~ Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach is taking a proactive approach to addressing the opioid epidemic among young people with the launch of a new youth opioid awareness campaign. Led by the Health Department's Harm Reduction Program and in partnership with the Youth Leadership Institute (yli), this campaign aims to engage and educate youth through multimedia workshops and storytelling.

The campaign, which will run through October 2025, will provide young people with the opportunity to develop skills and raise awareness about the dangers of opioids. It also aims to increase access to educational materials about opioid overdose prevention techniques.

Mayor Rex Richardson expressed his support for the campaign, stating that "engaging and uplifting youth is our City's priority." He believes that by involving young people in this important work, they can become informed leaders who are equipped to tackle challenges in their community.

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The campaign is open to high school students aged 14-18, with a focus on those from communities of color and those impacted by the opioid crisis. The Health Department and yli will engage a diverse group of young people from Long Beach in after-school workshops from now until June 2025. These workshops will focus on creating youth-led media, including social media messaging and storytelling zines.

Zines are self-published works that can educate, spark conversations, and inspire change. The zines created through this campaign will explore the harmful effects of opioids and ways to foster early intervention and support.

In July 2025, the campaign will expand to include young adults aged 18-24. More information on how to apply for this phase will be made available in the coming weeks.

Participants in the campaign will have the opportunity to showcase their zines in local community spaces, businesses, and libraries. They will also be featured on both the City's and yli's websites, social media channels, newsletters, and other platforms.

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Dr. Anissa Davis, City Health Officer, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the opioid epidemic among young people. She believes that this campaign will effectively engage youth by utilizing creative and culturally relevant approaches to deliver education and awareness.

Interested youth can apply through the Youth Leadership Institute's website. The deadline for applications is 7 p.m. on March 21, 2025. A selection committee from yli and the Health Department will review applications and contact successful applicants.

Funding for this campaign is made possible by the California Opioid Settlements, a fund established to provide resources to cities and counties for addressing the opioid crisis in California. More information on this fund can be found at oag.ca.gov/opioids.

To stay updated on the Health Department's Harm Reduction Program and this campaign, visit longbeach.gov/harmreduction. For any questions about the application process, prospective participants can email comar@yli.org.

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