WENTWORTH, N.C. — You may remember a meeting at Northern Guilford High School earlier this year.
The school's PTSA called the meeting to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl.
That meeting is now starting those conversations in Rockingham County.
"You can not experiment with fentanyl. It will take your life, it will kill you," said Sheriff Sam Page. "I want to save lives, I want to help people before something becomes critical."
Sheriff Page is on a mission to bring awareness to the dangers of illegal drugs.
His actions were spurred by a town hall at Northern Guilford High School.
An event was held in February after a survey showed 8 in 10 students felt there was a drug problem at school.
"It was a lot of good information that came from that. We met some people who had lost family members. We've got family members who in Rockingham County they have lost family members because they took medication, they took an illegal drug, and it had fitness in it, and it took their lives," said Sheriff Page.
The reach into other areas is exactly what parents and organizers of Northern Guilford's fentanyl town, hall were hoping for.
"That auditorium was full of people that were charged up just like us, wanting to know more, having more information to safeguard their families, and to make a difference in their community because they weren't satisfied," said Kathleen Smith.
"Having him come, having his presence was so important, having him believe in this cause and bringing awareness, it's everything," said Leslie Deaton.
Eleven lives were lost to fentanyl in Rockingham County in 2022, a number Sheriff Page says is unacceptable.
He's hopeful their efforts to reach students and parents will make a difference before experimentation with a single pill, potentially takes another life.