The Daniel Calazans Foundation is a dynamic nonprofit. We understand that mental health and substance abuse have multiple facets. So let’s dig into these issues, create an open dialogue across multiple digital media channels, and spread the word to traditional media. 

In our research, we learned that the opioid crisis — specifically the fentanyl death epidemic — often starts with prescription drugs given for pain, ADHD, anxiety, or depression.

Americans take more pills today than any other time in history, and far more than people in any other country. Pharmaceutical pills are drugs of abuse by Millennials and Gen Z, more than illicit drugs or marijuana. Teens and young adults frequently use code names to buy these pills on social media, at school, and at work. For example, Blueberry translates to Percocet®.

Upcoming Campaigns

DCF will empower the community by helping you and your family understand what’s behind this unprecedented crisis. Because simply telling people not to take a prescription pill, or to take a deep breath when experiencing panic, isn’t working, is it?

Each quarter, we will bring a different campaign. For example, in 2023, we will discuss the following:

The Importance of a Comprehensive Diagnosis

The stories of teenagers and young adults diagnosed with psychiatric conditions exemplify DCF’s mission. For example, a couple of years ago, psychiatrist Dr. Kiki Chang — who is part of DCF’s board of advisors — saw a 14 year-old girl who had the classic symptoms of mania, depression, and bipolar disorder.

After a comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Chang and his team at Stanford concluded that her diagnosis was incorrect, which was why she was not responding to the antidepressants and antipsychotics. It turns out that she had an underlying inflammatory condition. So Dr. Chang’s team took her off all the psychiatric medications and began treating her inflammatory disease with intravenous steroids. The new therapy allowed the girl to recover and get back to being a regular teenager.

In this campaign, we will tell these stories, highlighting the importance of what DCF does. We advocate for a comprehensive approach when evaluating patients with possible co-diagnoses of mental health and substance use disorders, determining if any physical illnesses or prescription medicines could be a root cause or aggravating factor.

The Kids Are Not Okay

Let Gen Z say what’s wrong. What is causing them to feel depressed and anxious? How can their community, including families and schools help? Is it social media’s fault?

Popular music has hundreds of songs glamorizing prescription pills, such as Xanax and Percocet. More than 500 million people viewed the song The Mask Off on YouTube, whose lyrics talk about Percocet and Molly (MDMA). We adults don’t know, but your child does. So let’s take a peek at “Xanny Family” on Spotify.

The Untouchables

Who are the people behind the fentanyl crisis? We know where they live and how much money they make, and we met the girls who are crazy about the “cooks” — the guys working for the cartel who mix the pills in clandestine labs.

Forever Broken

What happens to the families whose children died of fentanyl poisoning and suicide? At least half a million people are forever mourning their loved ones whose were lives cut short. Family members, especially mothers, are often lost to despair. How can we help them? What tools can they use to cope with this unbearable pain?

Help Us Spread the Word

Join us to help educate communities, share resources with families, and ultimately break the stigma around mental health and substance abuse.

Get Involved