Cary Quashen, founder and CEO of Action Family Counseling and a renowned Santa Clarita drug expert, discussed the drug overdose problem in Santa Clarita Wednesday in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day.

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International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held Aug. 31 each year to reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths and raise awareness about drug overdoses.

In the Santa Clarita Valley, there were 11 drug-related overdoses in 2015, and there have been at least 4 suspected drug-related overdoses in 2016.

“We are treating more adolescents to opioid addiction than ever before,” said Quashen. “Just in the past couple of years, we have treated more adolescents than I have in the last 20 years.”

Related: Personal Hardships Shared By Recovering Youth From Action Family Counseling At ‘Teens Talk Drugs’ Symposium

On Aug. 24, Quashen spoke at the “Teens Talk Drugs” Symposium featuring the stories and experiences of three young recovering youths from Action Family Counseling.

There has been a substantial increase in overdoses among both men and women, all races, and adults of nearly all ages, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

More people died from drug overdoses in 2014 than in any other year on record: 47,055 people died from drug overdose, according to the CDC.

“Generally, there is one accidental drug overdose every 19 minutes,” Quashen said. “That’s more than car crashes, gun shots. We are losing children. Absolutely do not think that it is not happening here.”

International Overdose Awareness Day originated in 2001 in Melbourne, Australia. At the time, Sally J. Finn, was the manager of a needle and syringe program for the Salvation Army.

Because of the stigma surrounding people who use drugs, she witnessed many families who could not freely express their sorrow.

Finn organized an event of remembrance to commemorate those who had died from overdose and to aid friends and family who lost loved ones to drug use. International Overdose Awareness Day aims to increase understanding of and improve responses to the consequences illicit drug, pharmaceutical and alcohol use.

“It’s good people,” Quashen said, “making bad decisions.”

Action Family Counseling is a Santa Clarita drug and alcohol rehab center. Action Family Counseling has drug and alcohol residential treatment locations in Santa Clarita, Piru and Bakersfield, as well as intensive drug and alcohol outpatient programs in Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Ventura, Pasadena and Bakersfield. Action Family Counseling supports and reinforces changes in behavior patterns so that adolescents and adults, or clients and their families, can fully indoctrinate the philosophies and principles needed to remain abstinent and stabilized for life.

Action Family Counseling

22722 Soledad Canyon Road

Santa Clarita, CA 91350

Office: 661-297-8691

24-Hour Helpline: 800-367-8336