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It Only Takes One
The First Lady of Virginia Suzanne S. Youngkin’s
Fentanyl Awareness Initiative
August 2025 Newsletter
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Dear Friends,
As college students across the Commonwealth return to campus this fall, I’m filled with both excitement for all they’ll accomplish and a sense of urgency around the challenges they may face. One of the most pressing? Fentanyl.
| |  | Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin with the 2025 Governor’s Fellows, including students serving as It Only Takes One College Ambassadors this fall. | | |
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This back-to-school season, It Only Takes One is expanding its reach onto college campuses—and we’re inviting student leaders to help carry this lifesaving message forward. With new resources, opportunities to partner with campus health and student affairs offices, and expanded access to REVIVE! Narcan trainings, we are building a movement of prevention and protection across Virginia’s colleges and universities.
To every student leader ready to step up: thank you. To every parent sending a child off to college: we’re with you. To our partners in education, health, and safety: we’re grateful. Together, we can protect our students, strengthen our campuses, and save lives.
With purpose and partnership,
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Suzanne S. Youngkin
First Lady of Virginia
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TODAY is National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day — August 21, 2025
Fentanyl is the leading cause of overdose deaths in young people—and one pill can take a life. As students return to campus, we’re calling on Virginians to step up:
In recognition of this day, Governor Glenn Youngkin has ordered flags across the Commonwealth to be flown at half-staff, honoring lives lost to fentanyl poisoning and those working tirelessly to advance prevention.
Together, we can protect our campuses, empower our students, and beat fentanyl.
| | Partnering with Colleges to Prevent Overdoses | | Virginia launches college fentanyl prevention effort | |
As part of our expanded efforts to stop fentanyl-related tragedies, It Only Takes One is partnering with colleges and universities across the Commonwealth. In a letter sent to student involvement and health directors, First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin and Secretaries Janet V. Kelly and Aimee R. Guidera invited campus leaders to join us in this mission.
Key goals for campuses include:
The new college resource section is now available at ItOnlyTakesOne.Virginia.gov/College, linking students directly to the help available on their own campuses. 2025 Governor’s Fellows will be reaching out to schools to support this important effort.
Should you have any questions, suggestions, or wish to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at ItOnlyTakesOne@Virginia.gov.
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Student-Led and Service-Driven: The It Only Takes One College Ambassador Plan
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Calling all college ambassadors
We’re proud to welcome a passionate new group of Governor’s Fellows and student leaders who are stepping up to serve as It Only Takes One Ambassadors this fall.
These ambassadors will:
- Partner with campus health centers
- Distribute educational materials at student orientations
- Promote awareness through campus media
- Facilitate REVIVE! Narcan training opportunities
- Write personal letters to campus newspaper editors and engage student groups
They'll also receive branded materials, talking points, toolkits, and personal support from our team. Together, these student ambassadors are taking ownership of the message and bringing it to life across campus communities.
To our college ambassadors: We’re so proud of you. You are change-makers, lifesavers, and leaders.
Need support or want to share how things are going on your campus? Reach out anytime at ItOnlyTakesOne@Virginia.gov.
🔗 Visit ItOnlyTakesOne.Virginia.gov/College if you are interested in becoming a Campus Ambassador and signing up to lead this effort on your campus.
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Student Voices: Grace Juran on Bringing
It Only Takes One to Grounds
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This fall, Grace Juran—one of our outstanding Governor’s Fellows—returns to the University of Virginia (UVA) to begin her Master of Public Health program. A passionate advocate for harm reduction and student safety, Grace co-founded and served as Chapter President of Team Awareness Combating Overdose (TACO) at UVA.
Now, as an It Only Takes One College Ambassador, Grace is continuing her advocacy by helping lead the charge to prevent fentanyl overdoses at UVA and beyond. In her own words, she shares what this mission means to her—and how students can help create a safer campus community.
From Grace:
Growing up, I was made aware of the dangers of fentanyl early on—my mother, a pharmacist, ensured I understood its risks. I still remember when she told me about Virginia’s 2016 standing order allowing anyone to access naloxone from a pharmacy without a prescription. At the time, I didn’t grasp the full significance of expanding access to this life-saving medication—not just for communities across the Commonwealth, but for individuals like me.
Little did I know I would co-found the first chapter of TACO at UVA. Inspired by my mother and my growing passion for public health, I wanted to make a difference among students on campus. TACO is a national student-led non-profit organization, founded at the University of Southern California, combating accidental overdose among students through education and accessible harm reduction tools such as fentanyl test strips and naloxone.
Though college presents a range of opportunities, it may also introduce students to unfamiliar challenges, including substance use. This is why it is important that students be equipped with the proper education and tools like Narcan® to prevent an accidental fentanyl overdose. For this reason, the First Lady has spearheaded an initiative to expand It Only Takes One to college campuses. Through the program, students can educate their peers on the dangers of fentanyl, expand access to Narcan®, and empower student leaders as advocates for overdose prevention. I am honored to be a small part of this mission to spread awareness about the dangers of fentanyl to both families and, now, students.
Grace Juran
Master of Public Health Candidate
University of Virginia
| | Spotlight: JMU’s “ResQed” Team Steps Up | | |
Student-led REVIVE! trainings save lives at JMU
At James Madison University, a student group called ResQed is leading the charge against overdose on campus. This student-run initiative hosts REVIVE! Narcan trainings, spreads awareness, and helps students prepare to act in a crisis.
🔗 Find them on Instagram
Thanks to the ResQed team, more Dukes are trained and ready to step in if an emergency occurs.
| | Media Moment: IOTO Featured on Living 757 | | |
First Lady Youngkin recently joined the hosts of Living 757—Hampton Roads’ dynamic lifestyle show—to spotlight the It Only Takes One initiative and share a timely back-to-school message for families across Virginia.
In the segment, the First Lady emphasized the importance of parents and caregivers having open, honest conversations with their children about the dangers of fentanyl. She also highlighted available resources to support families in raising awareness and keeping kids safe.
🔗 Watch it here
Thank you to Living 757 for helping spread this lifesaving message across the Commonwealth!
| | A Student’s Perspective on the Fentanyl Crisis | | |
On this National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, we invite you to hear directly from Virginia’s youth.
🔗 Read “Despite successes, fentanyl still scourges our communities”, an op-ed in Cardinal News by Zubin Mehta, a high school trustee with the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth.
Zubin shares how fentanyl continues to impact our communities, why awareness and honest conversations matter, and how young leaders can help spark change.
| | Nonprofit Spotlight: Fentanyl Fathers | | |
Fentanyl Fathers, founded in 2022, is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit led by parents who have lost children to fentanyl poisoning. Fueled by personal tragedy, they are turning grief into purpose—working to prevent other families from experiencing the same loss.
Their mission is to educate and empower young people through impactful high school presentations, naloxone distribution, and overdose response trainings. By speaking directly to students, these parents bring a powerful voice to the fight against fentanyl and counterfeit pills.
🔗 Visit fentanylfathers.org to:
- Schedule a school presentation
- Support their work
- Join the movement to save lives
Through honest conversations and real-world tools, Fentanyl Fathers is helping create safer futures for America’s youth.
| | Become a Fentanyl Family Ambassador | | |
If you’ve lost a loved one to fentanyl, your story can help save lives. The Fentanyl Families Ambassador Program equips participants with tools to raise awareness and advocate for change through storytelling, monthly awareness events, and ready-to-use materials.
🔗 Sign up
| | Add a Loved One to the Memorial Wall | |
The Memorial Wall is a sacred space to honor lives lost to fentanyl poisoning. If you would like to add a name to the wall, we invite you to share your loved one’s information with us.
🔗 Submit a name to the Memorial Wall
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The fight against fentanyl starts with awareness and action. Join the movement by taking the pledge to talk with the young people in your life about the dangers of fentanyl. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, coach, or caregiver, your voice can make a difference. By having open, honest conversations, we can protect our youth and prevent unnecessary tragedies.
Help us spread the word—encourage your friends, family, and community to take the pledge and explore resources available on the It Only Takes One website. Learn how to start the conversation, find support, and access life-saving training. Together, we can create a safer future for Virginia’s youth. Take the pledge today!
🔗 Find resources and sign the pledge
| | Keep Up with the First Lady and Virginia’s Behavioral Health Transformation, Right Help, Right Now | | | | |
Register for First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin's newsletters!
📩 It Only Takes One Newsletter – Raising awareness and taking action against the fentanyl crisis.
📩 W+g Newsletter – Supporting women and families through key initiatives, resources, and engagement opportunities.
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Register for Governor Glenn Youngkin’s behavioral health transformation newsletter!
📩 Right Help, Right Now Newsletter – Expanding mental health care, strengthening crisis response, and improving community services.
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