Student Designs Logo for Overdose Task Force Unit

Students at Arsenal Tech High School were part of an effort to spur change and save lives by designing a logo for the Indianapolis Overdose Death Task Force. The task force cracks down on drug dealers.

17-year-old Jesus Vasquez was chosen as the designer, and his design features the torch of liberty representing what the task force is fighting for, a purple ribbon for overdose prevention, 2024 for the year the task force was established, Indy's skyline, the stars of the states that come before Indianapolis, and a white star in the center to represent Indianapolis.

"I wanted it to be like a safe, powerful message about fighting for justice," said Vasquez. "It means a lot to me, just being able to do something that will go on and just be there."

The task force is proud of all three finalists and considers them all winners.

"While also including the stars of the states that come before Indianapolis and the white star in the center to represent Indianapolis," he said. "It feels good to know, to see something being done, and to see students being involved because the awareness is important."

Susan Fox, whose son Nathan May died from fentanyl poisoning, was part of the group that picked the logo. She said it's surreal to be working with these people four and a half years after her son's death.

"We have one student that's been impacted by it. I'm thankful that the other students learned about the impact of fentanyl so that they can go to their friends and have these conversations," said Adams. "I hope that this is just the first step to have the youth engaged so that they can continue to share information about this poison on our streets."

Overdose deaths have been the leading cause of death in Marion County for years. In 2018, Dealing Resulting in Death became a new law, but it was rarely prosecuted.

"We just filed a case on Friday, and another one filing today, so we're right around 20 cases, but there are many more families in our community that have been impacted by this who have no closure," said Adams. "We hear you, we see you, and we really are trying to do everything we can within our power to forward these cases."

"I'm just proud to be able to be in this overdose task force because we want to make our community a safer, better place. People aren't signing up to use drugs one time, laced with fentanyl and die, so they need to be held accountable," said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Gannon.

The logo is a symbol, a step forward, and a promise to families that dealing resulting in death matters.

McGinty said overdose deaths were down by 20% last year. She credits this with the use of Narcan and the awareness being spread to kids and community members.