PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kristi Young
kyoung@claysopermemorialfund.org
877-729-CSMF (2763) Ext. 3
PO Box 102, Winchester, MA 01890
Teen fatality due to prescription drug misuse is rising alarmingly. Getting the documentary program "If They Had Known" in schools and communities nationwide is vital to our young people.
June 8, 2023, Portsmouth, NH - Getting the Clay Soper Memorial Fund documentary program "If They Had Known" in schools and communities nationwide is vital to our young people. In addition to the recreational misuse of prescription drugs, teens who suffer from stress and depression are turning to prescription drugs to self-medicate. There is also an alarming increase in deadly overdoses from Fentanyl among young people. Teenagers unknowingly purchase Fentanyl-laced prescription pills on the street and through social media. “If They Had Known,” combined with the Program Toolkit, catalyzes peer-to-peer discussions about the risk of misusing and abusing prescription drugs and provides teens with life-saving information.
The documentary program "If They Had Known" is an honest account of an accidental death. The 35-minute film shares the night of Clay Soper's tragic death from mixing prescription drugs with alcohol. On July 18, 2015, 19-year-old Clay and his teenage friends gathered for a party. They were ready for a typical night of fun. During the party, Clay and some other partygoers mixed Xanax with alcohol. For Clay, it was a lethal mixture that caused his respiratory system and heart to stop. No one at the party knew combining prescription drugs with alcohol could be fatal. The life-saving message comes from Clay's friends and peers, not actors. The key message is genuine and impactful: Knowing These 5 Things Could Save Your Life or the Life of a Friend.
Since its debut, the documentary has aired in 32 states, 53 colleges, and 280+ high schools and communities. Our viewing audience is 800,000+. For parents and families interested in “If They Had Known,” individual rental is available on Amazon and Google Play.
The $25,000 Foundation for Seacoast Health Angel Grant allows us to bring the documentary program to local schools and organizations in the following areas for free:
New Hampshire: Greenland, New Castle, Newington, North Hampton, Portsmouth, and Rye
Maine: Kittery, Eliot, and York
The documentary “If They Had Known” is a program of the Clay Soper Memorial Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our mission is to educate, engage and empower today’s youth with life-saving information about the risks of misusing and abusing prescription drugs and to help motivate cultural change among young people.
