VOID raises awareness of the dangers of illicit fentanyl. We offer tools to students, parents, educators, law enforcement and government to share the awareness of the dangers of illicit drugs.
Washington, D.C.: A Powerful Week of Partnership, Education and Purpose
From July 6 through July 10, V.O.I.D. brought our mission to the nation’s capital, strengthened our relationship with federal law enforcement and officially launched our partnership with Leadership Initiatives.
“Just Say No” Something to think about
“Just Say No – To Just Say No. Poor Boomers. The big tool they handed down to their kids – one that did not ever work for them – was Nancy Reagan’s, Just say no.” I take umbrage with this advice, thinking that today in the age of fentanyl and other emerging even more powerful…
The VOID Store
A collection of products to remember those we have lost and to spread awareness of the danger of fentanyl poisoning. We want today’s youth and adults to help in a positive way. Shop the VOID Store. We’ll be adding special products seasonally, please check our initial offerings! Wear VOID – to strike a conversation, to help others learn and understand.
Now Available: Free Fentanyl Awareness Curriculum for Classrooms
We are excited to announce that we’ve transformed our live presentations—shared with schools, nonprofits, student organizations, law enforcement agencies, Drug-Free Coalitions, and government trainings nationwide—into an engaging, ready-to-use format for you and your students. Read More…
ABOUT VOID/MISSION STATEMENT
Victims of Illicit Drugs (V.O.I.D.) is a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing deaths caused by illicit fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. Founded by bereaved parents and family members, V.O.I.D. provides education, advocacy, and awareness initiatives designed to protect children, families, and communities from preventable harm.
V.O.I.D. was co-founded by Jaime Puerta and Steve Filson following the deaths of their children due to illicit fentanyl exposure. Their experiences reflect a broader national crisis in which fentanyl has become pervasive in the illicit drug supply, frequently disguised as prescription medication or unknowingly mixed into other substances. V.O.I.D. was established to ensure that communities receive accurate information and effective prevention strategies before tragedy occurs.
Mission and Core Programs
V.O.I.D.’s mission is grounded in three core pillars: education, advocacy, and awareness.
Education:
V.O.I.D. delivers evidence-based, age-appropriate education on illicit fentanyl and synthetic drugs to students, parents, educators, and community stakeholders. Programming focuses on prevention through knowledge, including the risks of counterfeit drugs, trafficking methods, and the lethality of even minimal exposure.
Advocacy:
The organization engages in nonpartisan advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels, collaborating with policymakers, law enforcement, public health professionals, and other victim-led organizations. V.O.I.D. works to advance policies that strengthen accountability, close systemic gaps, and prioritize prevention and public safety.
Awareness and Law Enforcement Engagement:
A key component of V.O.I.D.’s work is direct engagement with law enforcement agencies through briefings, impact meetings, and presentations, including the documentary Dead On Arrival. These efforts support informed enforcement strategies and reinforce the human impact of the fentanyl crisis.
Organizational Values and Approach
V.O.I.D. is nonpartisan, victim-centered, and committed to factual, transparent communication. The organization prioritizes accountability, prevention, and collaboration, and rejects narratives that minimize the risks associated with illicit drugs or obscure the realities of the current drug supply.
Impact Statement
Through education, advocacy, and strategic partnerships, V.O.I.D. seeks to reduce preventable overdose deaths and improve community awareness of illicit fentanyl. The organization is guided by a clear principle: these deaths are preventable, and proactive education and policy action can save lives.
Board of Directors
Victims of Illicit Drugs (V.O.I.D.) is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of individuals with lived experience, organizational leadership, and a strong commitment to prevention and public safety.
- Jaime Puerta, President & Co-Founder
- Steve Filson, Secretary-Treasurer & Co-Founder
- Chris Didier, Executive Board Member
- Mathew Brodman, Executive Board Member
The Board provides fiduciary oversight, strategic direction, and governance in support of V.O.I.D.’s
mission. Board members actively contribute to organizational planning, program development, and
external partnerships, ensuring that V.O.I.D. operates with accountability, transparency, and
alignment to its public-benefit purpose.
PERSONAL STORIES
“The presentation was very powerful and informative reaching students of multiple grade and maturity levels…we have had multiple speakers in, but none as powerful as this. (Mr. Puerta) made personal connections with students and even connected with students after the presentation. “
Mark A. Frengel, Principal
Laurel Middle-High School
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“While attending Session 297 of the FBI National Academy I was afforded so many opportunities and one was the many different presentations after hours. On one particular evening I attended a Fentanyl Presentation, not knowing what to expect. This presentation moved me and led me to immediately send a text to my children and make a friendly Dad reminder not to take anything from anyone else. I was able to bring the presenter, Jaime Ignacio Puerta Gonzalez to Saranac Lake to present to our High School and Community College yesterday and today. This evening we will be presenting to the Community. I highly recommend this presentation to any of my LEO colleagues. Its a conversation that needs to be had and Im proud to have been able to bring it to our community. Public Safety often starts with a conversation.”
Darin Perrotte Chief Of Police Saranac Lake Police Department
“….we are so grateful for the VOID organization, and all that they are doing to spread the awareness of fentanyl poisoning. We are so appreciative of the support that VOID gave our local F!GHT Fentanyl Campaign and Steve & Jaime coming to Wichita, KS. Red RIbbon Week allowed us to reach over 2500 teens locally! We are thankful that you have chosen to take this horrific life-changing event and make an impact on the youth in our communities.“
Dawn Cano, Director of Marketing & Development
Youth Educational Empowerment Program
“…Thank you so much for sharing your story and knowledge yesterday. After the meeting, many of the providers stated they had no idea about fentanyl. You gave them insight and educated them for sure. Many of them belong to faith-based organizations so I am sure they’re going to pass on the message. I’m praying for you and your family. Please continue to educate our community as it is making a difference.”
Cynthia Perez-Macias,
Supervising Probation Officer
San Bernardino County Probation Department
EDUCATION
Learn about the problem of fentanyl and fake pills in Dead On Arrival
Learn how your school can do a successful showing of DOA and request a parent advocate to attend. For further inquiries, contact us at info@stopthevoid.org.
Are you a media property who wants to run a PSA? Learn about our print, display, and online video PSA library.
BEST PRACTICES
We believe online platforms need to exercise a duty of care to protect users from drug traffickers on their platform.
Our commission for best practices to remove drug trafficking from Social Media launched its paper.
ACCOUNTABILITY
We recently asked the US Trade Representative to declare Snapchat a Notorious Market for counterfeit pills. Read our filing and the filings of other victim parents.
Are you a current or former employee of an online platform that hasn’t done enough to rid its platform of drug trafficking? Learn your rights as a whistleblower. Whistleblowers should contact:
FENTANYL
Fentanyl is a synthetic analog to opium. As a medication, fentanyl is considered 50–100 times stronger than morphine. Patients undergoing difficult surgeries and cancer treatments benefit from its effectiveness. Fentanyl is often compared to oxycodone for pain management, so it is helpful for recognizing how little is required to induce similar effects. Oxycodone doses range 5–60 milligrams (mg) while fentanyl dosages range 15–150 micrograms (mcg). Both dosages are minuscule, but the amount of fentanyl required is almost 1000 times smaller.
The problem started a while back. In the 1990s, pharmaceutical companies were given permission to market oxycodone (a timed release opiate) and similar drugs to doctors and patients. Pain was advertised as a disease to treat more than just a symptom. In the following decades, pain-management became a hundred billion dollar industry. To keep the competition alive, companies introduced new formulations of opiates, including fentanyl.
13 million US citizens were addicted to these medications by 2010 and our legislatures began to react. As a result of the body’s natural ability to build tolerance to medication, each person with pain would need more and more medication to achieve the results needed to live their lives. Those addicted went to great lengths to obtain more. This helped create a black market built out of rogue pharmacies, etc. The public finally began to notice the destruction and a campaign to educate and create laws went in to effect.
The black market grew further when much of the 13 million people couldn’t stop taking their medication overnight. Many began to seek out alternatives like heroin to fix their needs. Organized crime assisted in building a greater supply and in 2013 fentanyl became a major player. Much of the initial fentanyl was ordered from legal laboratories in China, India, and elsewhere in Asia. When sanctions by the US government penalized those countries, the Mexican cartels had already invested and so they made deals to produce fentanyl in Mexico while still ordering ingredients from countries in Asia.
CONTACT VOID
Need more information, want to learn more, join our team, or leave a comment? Send us a quick message, and we’ll get back to you.