Pictured from left to right are founder of demandZERO Lisa Deane, CT DIO Bobby Lawlor, CT PHA Anna Gasinski, The Rendon Group Senior Producer Ellie Barkett, The Rendon Group Senior Vice President Tricia Raynard, The Rendon Group Director of Youth Marketing Kari Johnston, The Rendon Group Co-founder/Senior Partner Rick Rendon.


Today’s youth face an evolving drug environment where fentanyl and fake pills pose serious risks, making it more important than ever to reach students with tailored prevention messaging. In April 2026, the Connecticut Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) team, in partnership with The Rendon Group, demandZERO, the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program and other national prevention partners, produced The Risks Are Real: The Truth About Fentanyl and Fake Pills, a national virtual student assembly designed to educate, engage and empower middle and high school youth.


The 60-minute production delivered evidence-informed prevention messaging in a format built for today’s youth, combining student reporters, expert guests, personal stories, interactive elements and a video message from the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. The CT ORS team served as executive producers and subject matter experts, helping shape the vision, messaging and educational value of the broadcast, and the CT Public Health Analyst (PHA) was featured to share practical prevention resources. Students came away with clear, relevant information they could apply, including the dangers of fentanyl and fake pills, how social media can increase risk, what to do in an emergency, how naloxone saves lives and how to make informed decisions to protect themselves and their peers.


The live broadcast reached approximately 30,000 youth and adults across 46 states and multiple countries, streaming directly into classrooms nationwide. A live studio audience of approximately 100 youth elevated youth voices and participation.


Early educator feedback pointed to strong results. Among respondents, 92 percent rated the program as good or excellent and 84 percent saw a moderate or significant increase in students’ understanding of the dangers of fentanyl and fake pills. Educators reported gains in more specific areas as well: 70 percent noted improvement in students’ understanding the risk of overdose from a single use, 66 percent in recognizing that fentanyl can be present in counterfeit pills, 44 percent in grasping why counterfeit pills cannot be identified by appearance alone, and 39 percent in knowing where to seek help and prevention resources. Looking ahead, 84 percent would recommend the program to other educators, and 75 percent expressed interest in future assemblies.


Following the assembly, educators were encouraged to continue classroom conversations using the program’s free on-demand recording and companion resources on The Risks Are Real website. Schools can build the content into health education, prevention programming, assemblies, Red Ribbon Week activities and student wellness initiatives, using the resources to reinforce key concepts, encourage help-seeking, and connect students with trusted adults and local resources. The production team also hosted a vision session at the 2026 Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, presenting broadcast snippets and an overview of the program’s development and learning objectives. A moderated panel highlighted how this approach can expand reach, strengthen collaboration and better engage youth through real-world education. Over the summer, additional video content will be made available on the website including interviews with subject matter experts.


Other key partners and coalition members were integral to the initiative’s national reach, including the national coordinator of the Drug Threat Analysis Group, a HIDTA national initiative, who helped guide the effort. ORS teams across the country recruited schools and expanded participation in their regions, strengthening cross-sector collaboration and positioning the CT ORS team as a leader in large-scale prevention initiatives.


The virtual assembly is available on demand at www.therisksarereal.org,.