Fentanyl poisoning, drug overdose, and mental health are growing problems in the United States with each year more and more youth being victims of these social issues. In this podcast, we talk to the founders of the Michael Leonardi foundation and the parents of Michael Leonardi who lost his life to fentanyl poisoning in 2020. Please help support their cause and help raise awareness of this matter. 

BIO:

Mona Leonardi is the co-founder of the Michael Leonardi Foundation, a bay area non-profit organization dedicated to raising illicit fentanyl awareness in communities across the north bay area.  After losing her son, Michael on February 24, 2020, at the age of 20 to fentanyl poisoning, she started the foundation, along with Michael’s father and sister, to be Michael’s voice and the voice of those lost to fentanyl poisoning.  Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin, is taking the lives of young Americans at an alarming rate at the hands of drug trafficking organizations and dealers.  The number one cause of death in the U.S. for ages 18-45 is fentanyl.

Mark graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology and is originally from Long Island NY.  He started a career in the hospitality industry working for iconic hotel companies such as the Four Seasons, the historic Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC, the world-famous Hotel del Coronado, and the Claremont Resort and Spa before starting his own company planning large-scale corporate events nationwide.  Currently, Mark is the general manager of a tour company with offices in Napa and Sonoma Valleys while he is not working on the Michael Leonardi Foundation.  His daughter Julia is a student at UCSB, and he also has a three-year-old son, Samual, who keeps him busy but very happy.  He also thinks about and misses his son Michael daily.  Mark's goals are to help spread the word about the dangers of fentanyl poisoning and help keep our children safe.

TIMESTAMPS

1:39 What are Ketogeek and Energy Pods?

11:43 Dangers of bad processed information

14:13 Guest bios

17:06 The back story and problem with fentanyl poisoning in the United States

21:27 What really stood out for you when you looked into the case of fentanyl poisoning?

22:48 Is fentanyl poisoning a new trend or something that's been going on for a while?

30:39 How are drug cartels marketing these drugs to dealers and the public?

35:22 History of fentanyl and why do we even have fentanyl in our drug supply?

37:37 How much fentanyl is used in medicine and how toxic is it?

39:30 What does fentanyl overdose in a person look like?

44:03 Is there a disconnect between colleges and the influx of opioid poisoning?

47:23 What are fentanyl test strips?

50:35 Is the DARE program or any drug awareness programs currently active in schools?

52:26 Why is fentanyl starting to dominate the drug market?

54:59 What kind of apps and social media tools are drug dealers using to target kids?

59:31 What can be done about fentanyl poisoning awareness?

1:04:20 How do you talk to youth about fentanyl poisoning and drugs?

1:07:56 How do you talk about your kids about fentanyl poisoning and drugs?

1:11:55 Who can you talk to if you have problems with drugs?

1:14:44 Do you have an important message for the public?

1:16:32 Final plugs

PLUGS
Michael Leonardi Foundation: Michael Leonardi Foundation | Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness

Facebook: Michael Leonardi Foundation | Facebook

Instagram: Michael Leonardi Foundation (@michaelleonardifoundation) • Instagram photos and videos

ALDEA: Welcome - Aldea Children & Family Services (aldeainc.org)

Ketogeek Website & Shop: KetoGeek | Official Site