On July 23, the Glendale Police Department (GPD) and The Crescenta Valley Substance Use Prevention Coalition, known as CV Cares, organized an event at St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church to raise awareness about drug use and the specific dangers of fentanyl.
Victoria Malone, the program director for CV Cares, began the event by sharing her personal experience. Malone’s son tragically died from an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2021, which motivated her to collaborate with the community organization to spread awareness about substance abuse.
“Whatever he had taken was tainted with fentanyl, and at the time, I didn’t even know what fentanyl was,” Malone shared. “I didn’t know how to pronounce it properly when I first read it,” she added, emphasizing her determination to prevent similar tragedies in the community.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, has become a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses across California and the United States, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Once prescribed primarily for pain relief after surgery or injury, fentanyl is now found mixed with various drugs, such as Xanax or cocaine, making even small doses potentially lethal. This shift has intensified the opioid crisis, with fentanyl playing a central role.
CV Cares operates as part of The Chace Taylor Malone Impact Foundation L.A., a nonprofit organization established in Montrose, La Crescenta, following the death of Malone’s son. The foundation focuses on addressing substance use by promoting mental well-being and fostering community change.
Speakers at the event included Sona Hovsepian, a licensed clinical social worker and clinical program director for GPD’s Substance Abuse and Wellness Resource Program, and Detective Guillermo Jimenez, alongside other detectives.
Jimenez, who was drawn to this field due to his personal experiences with substance abuse in his family, shared, “My dad was an alcoholic and a drug addict, and I saw things growing up that a normal kid wouldn’t see. When I became a police officer, I gravitated toward this field because of that. Every chance I get to talk and impact the youth of the community, I take it. My goal is just to educate and possibly save a life.”
The program’s objectives include empowering youth and families, raising awareness about substance abuse, and reaching out to those arrested for narcotics or mental health-related charges.
Fentanyl overdoses in Glendale have surged by more than 400% from 2020 to 2022, as reported on the department’s website. At the event, Hovsepian and Jimenez provided Glendale-specific data: nearly 20 overdoses and approximately 12 deaths occurred in 2020. The following year saw about 193 overdoses and three deaths. In 2022, the numbers peaked with 250 overdoses and around 12 deaths. Last year, there were seven fentanyl-related deaths.
Jimenez stressed that fentanyl is prevalent not only in Glendale but also in surrounding cities like La Crescenta and Burbank. “It’s here in our city. It’s nationwide,” he stated. “It’s probably the most abused narcotic we’re encountering. In past years, it was meth and heroin.”
He noted a decrease in fentanyl deaths, attributing it to users carrying Narcan or Naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. However, he warned that Narcan provides only temporary relief, and after its administration, it’s crucial to call 911 for further assistance.
The event also addressed the definition of addiction, how it impacts individuals, and the development of drug tolerance. Addiction was defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain.
Hovsepian also discussed the growing use of e-cigarettes and vape pens among middle and high school students, noting that these devices contain harmful substances, including cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals. She highlighted the dangers of nicotine, particularly its impact on the developing adolescent brain.
The event is part of the 2024 Summer Speaker Series by The Chace Taylor Malone Impact Foundation L.A. and CV Cares. The next discussion on drug misuse and mental health, featuring licensed clinical psychologist Annie Varvaryan, is scheduled for August 27 at St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church at 6 p.m.
For more information on CV Cares, visit theimpactfoundationla.org/cvcares. For details on the GPD Wellness and Substance Abuse Resource Program, click here. To learn more about Narcan, visit cdph.ca.gov and search “naloxone.”
