This piece is part of a series covering the work of the 2024 Emerging Journalist Fellows.
Student journalists at Sierra College in Rocklin, CA recently published a three-part online series in the campus’ Roundhouse News about their region’s response to the fentanyl epidemic as part of California Humanities 2024 Emerging Journalist Fellowship program. While an ongoing national public health crisis, Sierra College students focused locally, specifically on the efforts of government, health providers, school administrators, and law enforcement in Placer and Nevada Counties to combat the epidemic.
Law and Order or Gentle Touch? County Neighbors Fight Fentanyl
Written and reported by Greg Micek
In the first of three online articles, student Greg Micek examines neighboring Placer and Nevada counties’ vastly different approaches to the fentanyl epidemic, underscoring the challenges of finding a national solution.
“Placer County’s strategy focuses on abstinence education and law enforcement. Nevada County, on the other hand, relies on harm reduction and reducing the stigma associated with drug use to encourage users to seek help.”
Greg Micek
Harm Reduction: Support, not Stigma
Written and reported by Miranda Ricks
In her article for the Roundhouse News, Emerging Journalist Fellow Miranda Ricks writes, “When looking for a solution to the growing fentanyl crisis, some California counties turn to the practice of harm reduction. Harm reduction is an approach that prioritizes the experience of the user themselves, providing education and supplies to encourage safe drug use and prevent death by overdose.”
At Sierra College, harm reduction includes training for students and faculty on how to respond to a drug-related emergency and access to overdose reversal medication, such as Narcan, on campus.
“So often when an emergency happens, people are kind of like, oh, what do I do? And that’s not the time to wonder what to do. You need to know what to do beforehand.”
Zach Stanfield-Jones, Crisis Response Coordinator for Sierra College
Seeds of Addiction, Roots of Recovery
Written and reported by Greg Micek | Interviewed by Jeralynn Querubin and Greg Micek
In the third article, the team focused on the personal impact of drug addiction, believing it was important to include the point of view a person who had first-hand experiences with drug abuse, and with life in recovery.
When asked if she had advice for anyone on their own path to recovery, “Holly” said, “it takes many years. It just doesn’t take 30 days in rehab.” She added, “the first step; you have to go through withdrawal. Take the first steps. So it’s not just rehab and then all of a sudden you’re fixed. It’s something that you’re always having to work on.”
“Holly,” whose name has been changed to protect her identity
Emerging Journalist Fellowship
California Humanities’ Emerging Journalist Fellowship program provides student journalists at California community colleges financial and professional support to develop new skills and conduct in-depth local reporting projects. The program is designed to incorporate the insight and perspective of journalism and the context and inquiry of the humanities, to encourage media literacy and civic engagement, and to provide a springboard for California’s next generation of journalists.
First launched in 2019 as part of the national Democracy and the Informed Citizen initiative with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation through the Federation of State Humanities Councils, this program has since grown to include partnerships with community college campuses throughout the state.
In 2024, California Humanities awarded $90,000 in fellowship funds in support of student journalists enrolled at nine community colleges. Working with journalism advisor Joaquin Alvarado, students conduct in-depth reporting projects on subjects and issues of importance to their campuses and communities.
