Salmon Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition

10/06/2026

Remember Agent Camarena this month.

In February 1985, Camarena was kidnapped by police officers hired by the Guadalajara Cartel. After being tortured for information, Camarena was eventually killed. The U.S. investigation into Camarena's murder led to ten trials in Los Angeles for Mexican nationals involved in the crime.

09/28/2026

High school brings more independence.
Later nights.
New friends.
Driving.
Dating.
Parties.
More decisions made without a parent standing nearby.
But independence doesn't mean teenagers stop needing boundaries.
Our local data continues to show som**hing encouraging: most Salmon students believe their parents disapprove of youth substance use.
That matters.
Your teenager may roll their eyes when you ask where they're going.
Ask anyway.
They may think a curfew is unreasonable.
Set one anyway.
They may tell you that you're the only parent who doesn't allow som**hing.
Don't be afraid to be that parent.
Know their friends. Know where they're going. Check in. Set clear expectations about alcohol, ma*****na, va**ng and other drugs—and make sure they know they can always call you when they need help.
Teenagers need independence. They still need parents too.

09/28/2026

Prevention can't only be about everything we don't want kids to do.
Don't drink.
Don't v**e.
Don't use ma*****na.
Don't take someone else's pills.
Those messages matter.
But young people also need things they can say YES to.
Yes to friends.
Yes to activities.
Yes to leadership.
Yes to belonging.
Yes to trying som**hing new.
Yes to having a place to go.
That's a big reason SSAPCO supports Salmon Drug Free Youth.
We want our young people to have opportunities to lead, have fun, serve their community, meet new people and create the kind of youth culture they actually want to be part of.
Prevention works better when young people aren't simply being told what to avoid.
Give them som**hing better to choose.

09/28/2026

Here's some good news from our local students:
Past-30-day va**ng among Salmon High School students decreased from 18% in 2023 to 12% in 2026.
That's progress.
Sometimes prevention focuses so much on problems that we forget to tell young people when they're moving in the right direction.
Most Salmon students aren't va**ng.
Our students have also told us that va**ng doesn't seem as common as it was previously.
That doesn't mean the work is finished. It means the work is worth continuing.
Parents: keep talking.
Schools: keep setting expectations.
Students: keep looking out for each other.
And let's make sure our kids hear this part too:
Healthy choices are normal in Salmon.

09/28/2026

Last week we shared the new federal warning about fentanyl analogues including carfentanil, fluorofentanyl and m**hylfentanyl.
Here's why we keep talking about counterfeit pills:
You cannot tell what's in a pill by looking at it.
The illicit drug supply continues to change. The latest federal Drug Threat Notice warns that fentanyl analogues are appearing in counterfeit pills and being mixed with other illicit drugs. The White House
For teenagers, the message doesn't need to be complicated:
Never take a pill that wasn't prescribed to you.
Not from a friend.
Not because someone says it's “just a Xanax.”
Not because it looks like a prescription pill.
Parents, have this conversation before your child is ever offered one.
It may feel uncomfortable.
Have it anyway.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Drug-Threat-fentanyl-analogues-1.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

09/28/2026

Homecoming season is here.
Before your teenager heads out, take five minutes to cover the basics:
Know where they're going.
Know who they're with.
Know who is driving.
Know what's happening after the dance.
And if they're going to someone's house, don't be afraid to call the other parent.
Most importantly, make sure your teenager knows:
If som**hing goes wrong, call me. I will come get you.

09/28/2026

Most Salmon High School students are NOT currently drinking, va**ng, or using ma*****na.
That's important because what teenagers believe their friends are doing can influence their own decisions.
Parents, don't accidentally reinforce the myth by saying things like, “I know all teenagers are going to experiment.”
Instead, remind them:
Most kids are making healthy choices. You aren't the odd one out for saying no.
Sometimes prevention is simply making sure our kids know the truth about their peers.

09/28/2026

Today our middle and high school students had the opportunity to hear from Kyra with VIVE18!

VIVE18 takes a different approach to prevention. Instead of scare tactics or another “just say no” lecture, their programs focus on connection, healthy choices, positive social norms, and showing young people that being substance free doesn't mean missing out. VIVE18 | Youth Drug Prevention Programs

That's exactly the kind of prevention message SSAPCO wants our students to hear.

Prevention isn't just knowing that drugs can be dangerous. It's having the confidence to make your own choices, finding people you belong with, learning how to handle pressure, and realizing you don't need alcohol, ma*****na, va**ng, or other substances to have fun.

Thank you to Kyra for spending the day with our Salmon students and helping us continue that conversation!

Parents please ask your student what they thought about today's assembly. You might be surprised by what starts the conversation.


https://vive18.com/

09/16/2026

The illicit drug supply is changing again, and families in small towns are not exempt.

This week the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy issued a Drug Threat Notice on three fentanyl analogues now circulating nationwide: carfentanil, fluorofentanyl, and m**hylfentanyl.

ONDCP says these substances currently pose the greatest threat among fentanyl analogues because of how lethal they are and how widely they are showing up. CDC estimates they have been involved in at least 12,500 deaths since 2023.

Carfentanil is up to 100 times more potent than fentanyl.
Fluorofentanyl and m**hylfentanyl are as potent or more potent than fentanyl. They have been found in counterfeit pills and mixed into other illicit drugs, including co***ne, m**hamphetamine, and he**in. In 2025 they were identified in every region of the country.

This is why prevention still starts with a hard truth: one pill that was not prescribed to you can kill you. You cannot see, smell, or taste the difference.

What families, first responders, and the public in Lemhi County can do:

Be aware.

Never take a pill that was not prescribed to you. Know that any illicit drug can be contaminated with synthetic opioids.

Be prepared. Have naloxone on hand, and be ready to use extra doses.

Some of these analogues may require more than a single administration.

Seek help immediately. If someone may be overdosing, call 911.

How to recognize an overdose: cdc.gov

Poison Help Line: 1-800-222-1222

Prevention still matters here. Talk with your kids before a product or a “friend’s pill” ever reaches Salmon. If you want local prevention resources or to get involved with SSAPCO or Salmon Drug Free Youth, reach out.

09/16/2026

Nearly $295,000 in cash plus m**h, fentanyl, ma*****na, and other drugs were seized in a Lemhi County traffic stop Sunday night. Two Montana women were arrested.

Thank you, Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office.

This is why prevention work in our community still matters. Drugs are coming through our county. Talk to your kids.

Stay aware.

Story: https://localnews8.com/news/2026/09/15/montana-women-arrested-drugs-cash/

Two Montana women were arrested in Lemhi County, Idaho, after police found drugs and nearly $300k in cash during a traffic stop.