We are determined to save lives by educating our youth about the deadly dangers of Fentanyl.
Steven Loza
Forever 18
6/2002- 10/2020
What's Our Mission
Raising Awareness
Our mission is to educate the youth and their families of the dangers of Illicit Fentanyl. By sharing Steven’s Story, we hope to bring light to what this deadly drug is. The problem is you do not know if the pill or drug you are taking is laced with deadly Fentanyl. You can be an active addict or it can be the first time you have ever taken anything; Fentanyl DOES NOT discriminate. In order to save the lives of not only our youth, but the entire community we must start to educate them on what Fentanyl is and how deadly it truly is. When we all come together to share information and fight back against the senseless loss of a generation, anything is possible.
How does it work?
We have created a powerful presentation that not only shares the life and loss of Steven Loza, to Fentanyl Poisoning, but it educates the youth about what Fentanyl is, how to stay safe, and that no drug supply is safe. It is an interactive presentation that helps them understand in ways that are relatable to them on how taking anything not given to them by a pharmacy is Russian Roulette.
What is Illicit Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a power synthetic opioid. Illicit Fentanyl is creating a crisis like we have never seen. Chemicals needed are bought primarily from China, sent to Mexico where it is being used to press fake pills made to look exactly like a real Xanax, Percocet, or oxy. It has also been found laced in Heroin, cocaine, meth and even marijuana. There is no way to know what you are taking. Only 2mg of fentanyl (approximately the amount of two grains of salt) is enough to kill you instantly.
Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Overdose is now the leading cause of death in 18–25-year-old with 85% of that being Fentanyl poisoning. We must do anything we can to stop this crisis.
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Printable Information
About Us
Ronnie’s House For Hope was created out of the need for grief support in the Coachella Valley following the death of the founders husband, Ronnie Loza in 2012. Her and her youngest son Steven, found themselves struggling after their grief center closed down. In 2018 Ronnie’s House for Hope launched. In October of 2020, that once little boy grieving the loss of his dad lost his own life. Poisoned by Fentanyl at only 18 years old. Jennifer not only lost her husband but now her youngest child. Out of the need to find purpose to the pain and honor her son’s life of being someone who was truly a giver Forever 18 Fentanyl Awareness was created.
“I know my son would be proud of us for sharing his story to save the lives of other youth” Jennifer Loza, Steven’s mom
Steven’s Story
On October 24, 2020
It was a Saturday evening; I was at home with my oldest son Zach. Steven had been at a friend’s and was told to come home the night before. He had turned 18 four months earlier and was determined to do things his way. I had been trying to get ahold of him all day with no response. I was getting extremely worried; he was stubborn but would never ignore my texts and calls like this. At 8:05pmI saw a police officer walking up to my door. My son walked to his room and I opened the door. She asks me if I knew Steven Loza, my stomach dropped and could I have stopped breathing. I replied “Yes, of course I am his mother “She said “I am so sorry”, that was all I heard and threw my hand in the air and said “NO, NOPE, I don’t want to hear it. I dropped to my knees and screamed louder than I could ever imagine I could, screaming Zach!!! He came running out and it was chaos, shock, and utter horror. She told us they believe it was Fentanyl, but would have to wait for toxicology. She made It clear my son had died early Saturday morning, around 3-4am. The individuals 19- and 23-year-old with my son sat there and watched him die. They did not call police until 8 hours later, leaving him dead on the floor like trash. They had Narcan, which would have reversed the effects of Fentanyl and were trained to use it, they had phones to call 911 And refused to, there was also the parent to the 19-year-old who they never got. They just let him die. I should not have had to say goodbye to my child that day. He was only 18 for4 months and just graduated from High School. My life and the life of my family changed that day. It will never be whole again. To this day there are no consequences for the individuals who sat there watching my sons life slip away.
