Emerging Drug Threats - And How To Stay Safe!

What

Emerging Drug Threats - And How To Stay Safe!

When

11/20/2025, 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Join us for an important community event focused on drug awareness and prevention. Fentanyl and other emerging drug threats will be up for public discussion on Nov. 20, and all are invited. A workshop will be held at Rush City High School on that date, with resource
tables from 4:30-6:30 pm, and a Q&A session with experts from 6:30-8 pm.

Together, we’ll learn more about the growing dangers of fentanyl—a drug that has tragically impacted families right here in Rush City. Our guest speaker, Michele Hein, will share her powerful story of losing her son to fentanyl, helping families understand what’s happening in our communities and what we can do to protect our kids.

Food trucks will be available before the event— grab dinner and stay after conferences to take part in this meaningful evening of education and connection. Let’s come together as a
district and community to stay informed, support one another, and keep our students safe.

Rush City High School Assistant Principal Jerilyn Mattson and Resource Officer Michelle Lalonde are excited to bring this important event to the Rush City community.

“As the MTSS Coordinator, one of my goals this year is to strengthen family and community engagement,” Mattson said. “This event is a great opportunity to come together, learn, and raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and and other emerging drug threats, and their impact on our youth.”

Officer Lalonde has been in law enforcement for 22 years, with the past two years at Rush City Schools. She said she has serious concerns about fentanyl and other drug use in our community.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health (https://www. health.state.mn.us/communities/injury/midas/drugdeath.html), there were 36 drug overdose deaths in Chisago County between 2018-2023. Of these, 21 deaths were judged to be due to synthetic opioids. Non-fatal drug overdoses are much higher. Numbers for Chisago County are only available through 2021, but these show that there were 108 non-fatal overdoses in 2021, 94 in 2020 and 2019, 69 in 2018, 73 in 2017, and 58 in 2016.

“It’s really an epidemic, with so many overdose Lalonde said. “You see it in the young, the old - it doesn’t really discriminate. It’s good to spread the word about it, and what it’s doing to our communities.”

The event is sponsored by Fentanyl Free Communities, Chisago County Chemical Health, and Rush City High School.