By: WCSO Staff
March 28th, 2025
[Winchendon, MA] – For the first time, Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis was joined by a special guest presenter, Brian O’Keefe, Community Outreach Specialist at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New England, to conduct his youth drug and alcohol prevention program at Murdock Middle/High School. Together, they educated 7th, 8th, and 9th graders about the myths and facts surrounding drug and alcohol use.
The presentation aims to engage today’s youth through advocacy and education on the latest drug trends. The program, Face2Face, utilizes a modern approach, incorporating videos, popular music, and real-life examples to illustrate the before-and-aftereffects of substance use on the human body. Sheriff Evangelidis emphasized the dangers of illicit substances, particularly regarding their extreme potency in the unregulated market.
“The Sheriff’s presentation was impressive and had a profound impact on our students,” commented Dave Fredette, Principal of Murdock High School. “A big thank you to Sheriff Evangelidis and the DEA New England for taking the time to connect with our students and promote a brighter future.”
Since the program’s inception during his first term in office, Sheriff Evangelidis has brought this drug and alcohol prevention initiative to nearly every school district in Central Massachusetts, impacting over 400,000 students.
Additionally, the Sheriff addresses common myths and facts related to popular trends among today’s youth, such as vaping, alcohol consumption, and the sharing of prescription medications.
“The substances sold and distributed by criminals are dangerous and life-threatening,” said Sheriff Evangelidis. “I have prioritized education and prevention as the most effective means of keeping our youth from following the path to prison, where 90% of individuals are incarcerated due to drugs or alcohol. This innovative drug and alcohol prevention program effectively communicates the serious consequences of substance abuse to our students.”
Brian O’Keefe, of DEA New England, discussed the DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign. The DEA has issued a Public Safety Alert warning Americans of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. The Public Safety Alert coincides with the launch of DEA’s One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign to educate the public of the dangers of counterfeit pills and urges all Americans to take only medications prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.
For more information on the Face2Face program and scheduling, please contact Eric Eisner at EEisner@sdw.state.ma.us. To learn more about the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s One Pill Can Kill campaign, please visit www.dea.gov/onepill.
