Project SAFE: Students Against the Fentanyl Epidemic

Project SAFE: Students Against the Fentanyl Epidemic Project SAFE: Students Against the Fentanyl Epidemic Project SAFE: Students Against the Fentanyl Epidemic

Project SAFE: Students Against the Fentanyl Epidemic

Project SAFE: Students Against the Fentanyl Epidemic Project SAFE: Students Against the Fentanyl Epidemic Project SAFE: Students Against the Fentanyl Epidemic

Empowering Youth Against Fentanyl

Empowering Youth Against FentanylEmpowering Youth Against FentanylEmpowering Youth Against FentanylEmpowering Youth Against Fentanyl

Join us in raising awareness and reinventing Fentanyl curriculum

Get Involved Now

Empowering Youth Against Fentanyl

Empowering Youth Against FentanylEmpowering Youth Against FentanylEmpowering Youth Against FentanylEmpowering Youth Against Fentanyl

Join us in raising awareness and reinventing Fentanyl curriculum

Get Involved Now

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AboutPartnerships and ProjectsSample Fentanyl Awareness CurriculumMeet the Team

About Project SAFE

Fentanyl the Silent Killer

The fentanyl epidemic is a silent killer that has rapidly become one of the leading causes of death among young people in the United States. According to the CDC, over 70,000 Americans died from synthetic opioid overdoses in 2023, and fentanyl is now involved in more than 80% of all teen drug deaths. What makes it especially dangerous is its potency—just two milligrams, equivalent to a few grains of salt, can be fatal—and its ability to infiltrate communities disguised in counterfeit pills made to look like prescription medications or even candy. This crisis is advancing faster than our ability to contain it: dealers are constantly altering chemical formulas and distribution methods to evade detection, and new fentanyl analogs are appearing at unprecedented rates. The result is an evolving, unpredictable threat that preys on unawareness and curiosity. Addressing it is no longer optional—it’s a moral imperative to protect a generation facing the deadliest wave of synthetic drug use in history.

Our Mission

At Project SAFE, we are redefining drug education for the next generation. Our mission is to move beyond fear-based messaging and outdated lectures, transforming conversations about fentanyl and substance abuse into experiences that are real, relatable, and rooted in empathy. We aim to reach youth where they are—through honest dialogue, peer-led storytelling, and evidence-based education that empowers students to make informed, confident decisions about their own health and safety. But our vision extends further than classrooms. We partner with state and county leaders, school counselors, teachers, and parents to build a unified, preventative network that addresses the fentanyl crisis from every angle—social, emotional, and systemic. Together, we seek not only to raise awareness, but to ignite a cultural shift in how communities understand, teach, and confront the realities of substance use, ensuring that every young person feels seen, supported, and safe.

Partnerships and Projects

SADD: Students Against Destructive Decisions

Forsyth Virtual Academy: County Education System

Forsyth Virtual Academy: County Education System

Project SAFE recently partnered with SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) to expand our shared mission of protecting youth from the dangers of fentanyl. Through discussions with SADD’s National Leadership Council, we collaboratively developed and planned the nationwide launch of our fentanyl awareness curriculum—a program designed to reach both middle and high school students across the country.

Forsyth Virtual Academy: County Education System

Forsyth Virtual Academy: County Education System

Forsyth Virtual Academy: County Education System

Project SAFE has also partnered with the Forsyth Virtual Academy to deliver new Fentanyl Awareness Curriculum to online Health students in both middle and high school. This curriculum spans 2 weeks and includes a combination of interactive lectures, guided notes, discussion posts, quizzes, surveys, and self-produced videos. So far this curriculum has reached nearly 1600+ students and will continue to be used throughout Forsyth County. 

Forsyth County Drug Awareness Council

District 2: Georgia Public Health Department

District 2: Georgia Public Health Department

Through collaborations with the Forsyth County Drug Council, we have been able to meet school counselors and parents as well as teens in recovery and lawmakers, ultimately furthering our understanding and motivation to spread awareness. We helped promote council events such as Walk for Recovery Events and  Resource Nights. 

District 2: Georgia Public Health Department

District 2: Georgia Public Health Department

District 2: Georgia Public Health Department

In collaboration with the District 2 Georgia Public Health Department and the FCDAC we were able to launch a state-wide Opioid Billboard Campaign . We organized a design competition in which high schoolers could submit unique Opioid Awareness billboard designs to be selected by the GA Public Health Department. With over 100+ submissions the winners design will now be put on a billboard in Forsyth County. 

Fentanyl Blind Boxes: A Unique Awareness Campaign

Why Fentanyl Blind Boxes?

To make fentanyl awareness more engaging and relatable for youth audiences, Project SAFE launched a creative new campaign called Fentanyl Blind Boxes. Inspired by the popular trend of collectible “blind boxes,” where participants draw a mystery character from a set, we designed five unique character figures, each representing a different symptom or consequence of fentanyl use. Every box featured educational packaging with key awareness facts, sparking curiosity while delivering critical information in a way that resonates with teens. With the help of our dedicated members and volunteers, we produced and distributed over 100 Blind Boxes at community events, schools, and awareness fairs throughout the year—transforming a familiar pop culture experience into a powerful tool for prevention and conversation.

Character Designs

🟠 Orange – “The Flame”: Represents respiratory failure, symbolizing how fentanyl silently extinguishes one’s ability to breathe.
🔵 Blue – “The Chill”: Represents cyanosis (blue lips/skin), showing how oxygen deprivation sets in as fentanyl shuts down the body.
🟡 Yellow – “The Blur”: Represents dizziness and confusion, capturing the disorientation and loss of control fentanyl causes.
🟣 Purple – “The Shadow”: Represents addiction and dependency, illustrating how fentanyl pulls users deeper into darkness and isolation.
🟢 Green – “The Revival”: Represents hope and recovery, inspired by Narcan (naloxone) and the power of awareness, education, and second chances.Orange: 

Recipients of Blind Boxes

Above are pictures showcasing some samples of the figurines and their blind boxes along with some people from the community that received and shared these blind boxes. We handed out these boxes at:


1. Collections at Forsyth County 


2. Avalon 


3. Halcyon Mall 


4. Mall of Georgia 


5. Sharon Forks Park

3 Part Fentanyl Awareness Curriculum

8 Short PPTs Breaking Down Fentanyl

Our three-part fentanyl awareness curriculum was designed to redefine how youth engage with drug education—making it genuine, interactive, and memorable. In the first phase, we developed eight comprehensive PowerPoint modules, each covering a unique aspect of fentanyl awareness, from its chemical makeup and effects on the body to the social pressures and misinformation that make it so dangerous. Every presentation was crafted by students, for students—using authentic language, real-life scenarios, and visuals that feel relatable rather than clinical. This approach ensures that the message resonates deeply and inspires lasting awareness rather than momentary attention.

Guided Notes for PPTs

The second phase focuses on active learning and retention. We integrate guided PowerPoint notes throughout the lessons, where students fill in key information as the slides progress. These prompts are carefully aligned with the day’s content, ensuring students remain alert, involved, and processing what they learn instead of passively watching. By transforming listening into participation, this structure helps reinforce critical facts and concepts—turning awareness into understanding and understanding into action.

Student-Made Awareness Videos for STUDENTS

In the final phase, we bring learning to life through daily student-created videos and interactive games. These short, engaging clips and activities make fentanyl education more dynamic and less repetitive, blending creativity with impact. Students watch real peers discuss awareness, play games that test their knowledge, and simulate real-life decision-making moments to understand the consequences of fentanyl misuse in a meaningful way. By combining creativity, empathy, and education, our curriculum ensures that every student leaves not only informed—but empowered to make safer, smarter choices.

Meet the Team

Eshawnvie Kallu (Co Founder)

Hello everyone, my name is Eshawnvie Kallu and I am now a rising senior at Lambert High School. I started Project SAFE with Sahasra as sophomores in high school after seeing a fellow teammate of mine OD from Fentanyl. This experience opened my eyes to how truly pervasive and deadly this drug can be and why awareness and new education is necessary for change. Please join Project SAFE on our journey for a better tomorrow!

Sahasra Tatavariti (Co Founder)

Hello guys, my name is Sahasra Tatavariti. I am also a rising senior and a fellow Co-Founder of Project SAFE. Hopefully by exploring our website and becoming involved in our projects you too can join us on this mission for redefining the past into a better tomorrow. 

Siri Gudapati (VP of Fundraising)

Hello, my name is Siri Gudapati. I am a rising senior at Lambert High School. I joined Project SAFE in the 11th grade. In order for Project SAFE to thrive stigma must be stopped, hence why I joined th team to use my own skills and experitise to further this mission. 

Alex Swancosky (VP of Membership)

Hi everyone. My name is Alex. I am entering my final year of high school. I have been a part of SAFE since 10th grade and became an officer this year. Experiences such as the ones offered in this organization are rare and uniquely beautiful. Please join us on sharing this beauty and journey with as many people as possible. Thank you!

Copyright ©  Project SAFE: Students Against the Fentanyl Epidemic  - All Rights Reserved.

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