The Education Support Center in Lemon Grove once advertised its services online. They claimed to promote a drug-free lifestyle and help people get back on their feet, but the business itself was registered as a company that would help low-income consumers learn about finances. Police say it was none of these things; instead, it was actually a front for the distribution of the deadliest drug on the market:  fentanyl. 

A Fentanyl Operation In Plain Sight

In the building on San Diego’s Lemon Grove Avenue, the police found supplies used to sell drugs and the fentanyl they were selling. They also found about sixteen thousand dollars. There was no evidence of any other activity on the property.

The business owner himself was known as a drug dealer in the community.  He had ties to both cartel and gang members. In November 2024, he was charged with possession with the intent to distribute by a grand jury. The San Diego Police Department and the FBI worked together on the case. 

The Center was never a safe place for drug users to get sober. It’s not clear if it was ever used for such purposes.

San Diego, Fentanyl and Addiction

Fentanyl is having a deep impact on America, just like the earlier opioid epidemic. While the focus is saving lives, San Diego officials often focus on providing treatment options or sober living. Yet there continues to be rising levels of homelessness and addiction. 

New conservatorship laws allow authorities to detain people who need help with addiction or mental health and send them to inpatient treatment. However, the law sends them to places where they wait for a bed and rarely actually end up in a treatment center. They simply stay inpatient at a hospital, essentially a holding space, for 72 hours until the hold is expired. It’s clear that further resources are needed to make the intent of the law a reality.

Fentanyl addiction is a major social issue in the region. Between 2016 and 2023, there were 3,590 opioid-related overdose deaths in San Diego County.  About 70% of current overdose deaths involved fentanyl, according to a quarterly report from late 2024.

San Diego County Is A Major Trafficking Area

San Diego County is always a major hub for drug trafficking due to its proximity to Mexico as well as various ports of entry. Every day, thousands of fentanyl pills, kilos of cocaine, and other drugs are seized by Customs, police, and Homeland Security officials. In 2024, US Border Patrol agents seized a total of over 2800 pounds of fentanyl in the San Diego Sector.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 97% of people arrested for fentanyl trafficking end up sentenced to prison terms. The typical demographic of a fentanyl drug dealer is a male around the age of 33, who is a citizen of the United States.

The highest rate of fentanyl-related deaths is seen in ages 18-34, especially among people who like to use more than one drug at once. (Polydrug users.) Fentanyl is a common additive in San Diego street drugs, including heroin, counterfeit pills, and stimulants. Many people who work in harm reduction recommend all recreation drug users carry Naloxone in case of an overdose emergency.

Getting Help for Addiction in San Diego County

If you or somebody you love is struggling with substance use, help is available. We’re here to answer questions you have about recovery and help you find treatment and/or detox. Give us a call at 1-800-626-4014 to learn more about your options.