In this conversation, Detective Patrick Craven discusses the alarming rise of fentanyl-related deaths among youth. We highlight the role of social media in facilitating drug transactions, the risks associated with experimentation, and the deceptive nature of counterfeit pills. 

Patrick emphasizes the importance of parental awareness and education regarding the dangers of drug use in today's digital age. We provide essential guidance for parents on how to communicate the dangers of these substances to their children, the importance of being informed and proactive, and the life-saving potential of Naloxone.

About Detective Patrick Craven

Detective Patrick Craven is employed by the Placer County Sheriff's Office. Currently, he serves as the lead detective for the Placer Opioid Response Team (PORT), a specialized unit dedicated to addressing opioid-related issues. Before his role in PORT, Detective Craven spent four years as an undercover narcotics officer for the Placer County Special Investigation Unit (PSIU). In 2020, he began investigating fentanyl poisonings and has since been the lead detective on twenty-five cases involving fentanyl deaths. Detective Craven was the lead detective on California's first fentanyl poisoning homicide conviction as well as the state’s second fentanyl poisoning homicide conviction by trial. In total, Detective Craven has successfully obtained three fentanyl poisoning homicide convictions and one manslaughter conviction. Detective Craven possesses unparalleled expertise in investigating fentanyl poisoning homicides and is leading the way in this specialized field.

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.

We once rejoiced at the technology advancements for our children—cell phones offered a sense of security (mostly for us), tablets provided endless learning resources, and social media promised enhanced connections with peers, all at little or no cost.

But the actual cost has been steep: a surge in harmful content, bad actors, and a growing mental health crisis. Behind it all, tech giants built addictive, amoral algorithms to trap kids in a cycle of engagement  - all in the name of data collection (aka profit).

Now, schools are paying the price. Social media-related disruptions are driving up costs and straining resources. In this episode, attorney Joel Wright and Nicki from Scrolling 2 Death discuss how Wright is helping over 250 school districts hold social media companies accountable for the damage they've caused in our children's classrooms. 

Do you want to see your district represented in this case? Contact Joel Wright to learn more: [email protected]

The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.

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Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:

Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. 

I brought in Titania Jordan to compare our 2025 Tech Resolutions. This time, we took the focus off of the kids and talked about our own relationships with technology. How can we improve tech-life balance and set a positive example for our kids?

Resources mentioned in the episode:

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies:

In this conversation, 21-year-old Harrison Haynes opens our eyes to a new way of living with tech; something he coins "digital essentialism." 

Parents worry so much about keeping our kids safe online...is it time we take a look at our own relationships with technology?

Connect with Harrison on LinkedIn.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Harrison Haynes, a student at James Madison University, is currently finishing his bachelor degree in Social Work with a concentration on Mental Health Counseling and a minor in global religion and cultures. 

Harrison is aiming to continue his education, completing a Master's Program, and pursuing his ambition to become a Therapist through Clinical Social Work. 

Beyond academics, Harrison is actively involved in the Wired Human Youth Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting discussions on online harms and mental health with a focus on empowering young voices to lead the conversation in political advocacy.

Harrison also serves as a Survivor Consultant for the End-OSEAC Survivors Council, where he helps develop trauma-informed and survivor-led legislation to combat online exploitation and digital harms. 

His work and lived experiences have created an appreciation for formative practices, especially what he calls “digital intentionalism.” After a year and a half of navigating life with a "dumb phone," he developed this concept for everyday people to help create space for what truly matters in a book he is authoring called: “The Moments Between Moments”.

In his free time, Harrison leads a vibrant and diverse “life group” dedicated to helping students and friends find peace in an intentional, spiritual life. 

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies:

The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.

Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:

Meta Adds Thousands of AI Users to Facebook and Instagram

Recommended Interviews:

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. 

I brought in Dr. Alison Yeung to recap 2024 and set intentions for 2025 around kid's online safety.

Sean Killingsworth brings the youth perspective on what it's like to be a teenager with access to smartphones and social media.

After struggling as a young teen with his use of smartphones and social media, Sean decided to switch things up. He started using a flip phone. After the initial weaning of period, Sean felt incredible. He was more present and happier. But problems remained, as all of his peers were still unable to lift their eyes from their phones.

This led to the creation of The Reconnect Movement.

More about Sean:

Seán is the founder of the Reconnect Movement, which creates in person communities on college campuses for students to socialize without their phones. Students love it.

Reconnect currently has over 500 students signed up for student-led reconnect clubs at the University of Florida and University of Central Florida. Reconnect has hosted events at Harvard, Rollins College, Catholic University of America, Divergent U with plans to expand nationally in the next 2 years.

In addition to his advocacy work with The Anxious Generation, Design it for us, and the Becca Schill foundation, Seán also speaks at conferences, events, and colleges. Most recently, he gave a guest lecture at Georgetown University.

He is launching his podcast Be the Oasis in January 2025. His book by the same name will be published in spring 2026.

You can reach out to Sean at: [email protected]

Resources Mentioned in the Episode

I brought in Dany Elachi of the Australian-based Heads Up Alliance to learn about the recent U16 Age Gate Bill which passed in Australia. In addition to breaking down the new law, Dany shares his personal experience in (admittedly) giving his pre-teen daughter a phone too early and how correcting this mistake led to an advocacy movement across Australia.

Dany breaks down the legislative battle in getting this new law passed, how the age verification will work, which platforms this applies to and much more. 

Resources Mentioned in the Episode

Dany Elachi is a Sydney husband and father of five children, aged between 7 and 15.

He is also the founder of the Heads Up Alliance, a volunteer-run, grassroots movement of Australian parents committed to delaying smartphones and social media for their children.

Since its inception in 2020, the Heads Up Alliance has also been a powerful advocate for children's wellbeing. The movement has successfully advocated for policy changes that led to smartphones banned in nearly 1,000 Australian schools. More recently, the Heads Up Alliance played a pivotal role in lobbying for a world-leading national law raising the minimum age for social media to 16.

The Heads Up Alliance remains committed to ending the phone-based childhood and reclaiming the play-based one for all Australian children.