May 29, 2024\u00a0 Contact: <\/b>Kristen Govostes\u00a0 Phone Number:\u00a0<\/b>(617) 557-2100<\/p>\n
BOSTON \u2013 The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration\u2019s New England Field Division will team up with college esports teams from across New England to host the first of its kind, hybrid One Pill Can Kill Game Over Tournament. This event aims to meet a critical moment in time by using the esports platform to help educate young people about the dangers of fentanyl.<\/p>\n
Twenty-two teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18 die every week from a drug poisoning or overdose death, according to a recent study by the\u00a0New England Journal of Medicine.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>To more effectively reach this important audience, DEA has teamed up with actress, founder of the Devon Michael Foundation, and influencer Ava Michelle and eight esports teams across the region to take an innovative new approach to fentanyl outreach and awareness.\u00a0 With an overwhelming 97% of Americans between the ages of 12 and 17 engaged in video gaming, DEA is looking to reach young people where they often spend time \u2013 in the virtual world.<\/p>\n The One Pill Can Kill Game Over Tournament will be hosted by Clark University Esports on Thursday, June 6, 2024, from 7 to 9 p.m. ET on Twitch (twitch.tv\/onepillcankill).\u00a0 Access to view the tournament will also be available at\u00a0DEA One Pill Can Kill Game Over Tournament | DEA.gov<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Joining Clark University for this Rocket League battle will be esports teams from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Boston University, Emerson College, Post University, University of New Hampshire, and the University of Southern Maine.<\/p>\n DEA will host an in-person pre-tournament program and live gameplay for invited guests at the state-of-the-art gaming center, All Systems Go, on Thursday, June 6, 2024, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Attendees will include high school aged students, community groups and dignitaries.\u00a0 Media should plan to arrive around 5:45 p.m. for b-roll opportunities ahead of the press event, which will include remarks from DEA Associate Administrator Jon DeLena, Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis, Ava Michele and more. All Systems Go gaming center is located at 225 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester, Mass., 02604.<\/p>\n Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, which is now involved in a majority of drug poisonings and overdose deaths.\u00a0 Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin, and just two milligrams \u2013 the amount that can fit on the tip of a pencil \u2013 can be deadly. \u00a0Often, people buy what they think is a legitimate prescription pill like Percocet or Xanax on social media, but it turns out, they\u2019ve unknowingly purchased a fentanyl pill. \u00a0DEA laboratory testing indicates 7 out of 10 fentanyl pills seized contain a potentially deadly dose. \u00a0In 2023, DEA seized approximately 15.7 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl in New England alone.<\/p>\n \u201cI am thrilled we are able to team up with these amazing esports teams to host this One Pill Can Kill Game Over Tournament in New England and increase awareness about the dangers of fentanyl,\u201d said DEA Associate Administrator Jon DeLena. \u201cThis event is extremely personal to me.\u00a0 I know how much my own kids enjoy playing video games, so knowing they are also learning valuable, life-saving information while doing what they love is so important. I want to encourage any family with a gamer to join us \u2013 either virtually or in-person \u2013 watch the competition and then talk about what you\u2019ve learned. It could be the most important talk you have as a family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cConnecting with people in an environment where they are having fun and are open to learning has been an incredible experience. Raising awareness and providing education about the fentanyl epidemic is absolutely crucial\u2014I genuinely believe we are saving lives.\u201d – \u00a0Ava Michelle Cota, Actress, and Founder, Devon Michael Foundation.<\/p>\n The One Pill Can Kill Game Over Tournament in New England will be the third tournament in this series. \u00a0The first tournament was held in the DEA\u2019s New Orleans Field Division in January and reached more than 285,500 viewers. The second tournament was hosted by DEA Philadelphia in March and was viewed by more than 146,800. B-roll and soundbites from the previous events is available\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0The New England event is the first to offer an in-person outreach event ahead of the tournament.<\/p>\n DEA would like to thank the participating teams, All Systems Go, The Rendon Group, and the esports community for their involvement and support of DEA\u2019s One Pill Can Kill Game Over Tournaments.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nDrug Enforcement Administration<\/h4>\n