Pablo Chinchilla
Pablo, a senior at Los Angeles Senior High School, lives in Mid-City, Los Angeles. He joined KARS to help his community and raise awareness about opioid and stimulant use. Through KARS, he learned about the effects of these substances and how to educate others, including distributing Narcan and participating in community events. He hopes to make a difference by spreading awareness, supporting recovery services, and helping teens find healthier ways to manage stress.
The State Isn’t Doing Enough About Drugs
Interview by Jennifer Cifuentes
Please start with your name, age, and where you go to school.
My full name is Pablo Armando Chinchilla. I’m 17 now, but I’ll be 18 in six months. I am a senior at Los Angeles Senior High School.
So Pablo, what is it like to be a senior?
Being a senior is fun for some people, but not for me because I’m currently stressing about college. It also felt really fast. These past four years [have gone by] quickly. I wish I could have had more fun with my friends and traveled more.
Where is your hometown?
My hometown is Los Angeles, but I have been moving around a lot. I used to live in Long Beach and then moved to Palmdale. I live in Los Angeles at the moment, and I hope it will stay that way.
Which place was your favorite to live in?
My favorite place to live is Los Angeles because there are a variety of activities. I also like living near the beach because there’s just so much you can do.
What was your least favorite place to live?
My least favorite place was Palmdale. I used to live in this small, very quiet area, and I didn’t really know anyone. It was lonely. But one thing that I took to memory was always watching the sunset, and it would always be hot.
Do you currently live in Koreatown? What are your thoughts on Koreatown?
No, I don’t live in Koreatown. I live in Mid-City. My thoughts about Koreatown are that it’s pretty chill. I come here with my friends a lot. We go to cafes and boba shops, but we mostly come here to study.
Do you have any negative thoughts about Koreatown?
Although Koreatown is a pretty cool spot, something negative that I find is the increase in homelessness and people who seem to be on drugs.
What is a significant memory you have in Koreatown?
A significant memory I have is when it was my friend’s birthday. We all decided to go to Gangnam Station, a Korean barbecue restaurant, and it was my very first time trying Korean barbecue.
Where is your favorite place in Koreatown?
My favorite place in Koreatown is this small coffee shop on Wilshire and Western Avenue called Cafe Loft. It’s a quiet spot with a cool atmosphere. I usually go there to study and complete work.
Why did you join KARS?
I didn’t even know KARS existed, but I had a friend, Brianna, who used to attend the program and recommended it. At the time, I didn’t really have anything to do, but I also wanted to help the community, so I decided to join.
What have you learned in KARS?
I learned about opioids and stimulants and the effects that they can have on your body. I can help the community by participating in community service events and spreading the word about [substances] and [their impact on] our communities, schools, and environment.
Opioids and stimulants have an impact on my school because a couple of years back, we used to be known as one of the top criminal-type schools, like Crenshaw and Dorsey, where it’s just nonstop drug use and gang violence. That has been slowly becoming better, but I’ve noticed that there are still a bunch of people using drugs.
How does the drug usage at your school make you feel?
Initially, it was none of my business. But it makes me feel upset and disappointed because if [those students] continue down that path, they could end up homeless or addicted to drugs. I don’t want to see anyone in my school get like that.
Do you know any peers or friends who are abusing opioids and stimulants?
Actually, one of my friends I’m very close with uses nicotine a lot. Although I tell them to stop, they say that they have it under control. They always post on their social media pictures of themself using their vape. I have another friend who does edibles. They have already graduated but continue to use edibles that their friends give them, or they are pressured into drinking alcohol.
Would you recommend KARS to those people who are misusing substances?
I recommend KARS because after being in this program for about a month, I learned that there are good recovery services. It’s a helpful program. If I see my friends continue to worsen, I’ll recommend KARS to them.
Do you believe that the state of California is doing enough for opioid addiction?
They’re not doing enough. I’ve been to streets like Skid Row and MacArthur Park, and I see people leaning over. I think they’re homeless. Los Angeles and California are not doing enough.
What are some ways that you would want to help your community?
If I were rich, I would try my best to help with homelessness and drug use. But as of this moment, all I can do is spread awareness and do community service to educate others about drug usage. One solution that I believe can stop opioid addiction is if, although controversial, we start banning over-the-counter medications. That’s one way we can do it. Another way is if we start spreading more awareness about recovery services and start making [stricter] laws on opioids.
How do you think you can make a difference in stopping opioid addiction?
At the moment, one way I can make a difference is by spreading awareness, joining community service [programs], and using social media apps.
Are you spreading awareness on social media?
No, but I’ve heard that we’re going to make social media posts in KARS. I’m really looking forward to that because I can make posts and spread awareness to my friends and family.
What is the most common place that you notice drug use?
The most common place I’ve noticed [drug use] is definitely Skid Row. I’ve been there a couple of times, and I’ve [seen] a bunch of people either on the floor or hunched over, just standing there, looking like they’re not even breathing. I wish I could do something about it.
What types of substances do you think people are using in your neighborhood?
Some types of substances that I believe are being used in my community are heroin, nicotine, edibles, and marijuana. The only reason I think people are using heroin is that when I’m walking on the streets, I notice small pipes that have black stuff on them and have been burned.
Do you think drug use is a nationwide issue?
I’m going to say that yes, it is nationwide. A couple of years back, we had a fentanyl epidemic where a lot of people, including children, were suffering [because of] fentanyl. I mean, not just by using drugs but by consuming anything. There have been people who have died from fentanyl because they thought it was candy, and it was candy, but it had been coated with a bit of fentanyl. It’s so bad.
Have you seen drug use on social media?
Yes, I’ve noticed drug use on social media, especially on my school accounts, because all the students from L.A. High follow that account. Everyone just posts their daily lives there. I’ve seen a couple of students who post nicotine and sometimes bags of weed.
What does your school do about this issue?
At the moment, my school doesn’t really do anything about drug use, but we’re slowly learning more about fentanyl and nicotine. They already banned vaping, but I noticed students still bring their vapes and whatnot. Once I graduate, I think they’re going to start checking people’s backpacks.
Hypothetically, if you were able to start a club at your school, how would you go about that?
Well, since I’m a senior, I don’t think I’ll be able to start a club. But if I did start a club, I think I’d name it KARS as well and promote it at club rush to educate people. Hopefully, I can talk to [KARS community health worker] Lizbeth Perez and everyone else to support me in starting a club at school.
Do you think students from your school would join this club?
I think people from my school would join this club because we could do community service events that [earn] them community service hours. Also, there might be people in my school who are struggling with drug use, so I think [a club like that] would really benefit them.
How many KARS events have you participated in?
At the moment, I have only participated in one event. It was this event on Pico and Vermont; a bunch of KYCC [booths] were set up, and they were all promoting different things, but I was there to promote KARS. At first, I was really nervous about talking to people, but I slowly started [engaging]. I was informing people about opioids and stimulants and how there was a rise in fentanyl a couple of years back. I also gave people pamphlets of information and Narcan, so just in case they ever see someone having an overdose, they can save their lives.
Although I only participated in one event, I want to participate in more [to continue helping] my community. Hopefully, throughout my work, I’m able to save a life, even though I won’t know them directly.
Do you believe that these events actually benefit and help people?
Yes. I’m glad that these events exist because there are a lot of people who are too shy to come forward and ask for help, and I believe that these events can help them and [provide] information. The other day, I noticed that there was an event about drug use. It wasn’t KYCC, but another organization, and I saw a bunch of people lining up to get a pamphlet from them. I think they also provided medical services. So I’m really glad they did that, and I believe it helped everyone in line.
How does being a part of KARS and participating in these events make you feel?
Being a participating member of KARS has made me feel useful to my community. I’m so glad that I’m able to participate because I want to help. I want to continue being in KARS and also join other community events so that I can help more people.
Have you been in situations where there were opportunities to use drugs or drink alcohol? Did you feel pressured? Why or why not?
Yes, I have definitely been in situations where they asked and kind of peer-pressured me to use drugs or alcohol. I’m going to be completely honest, I have never touched drugs, but I have drunk alcohol. I remember this past summer, I went to my friend’s graduation party, and they offered me a bit of this alcohol called BeatBox or whatever. I told them no at first, but they peer-pressured me, and I kind of folded. I had a tiny sip. It was horrible. I don’t understand how people can drink alcohol, but it was my friend, so I just had to take a sip.
Why do you think some teens abuse drugs and alcohol?
I believe teens use alcohol and drugs because they’re stressed. At my school, especially with the courses I’m taking, it’s really stressful. I think other students are experiencing the same thing. So one way that I think they find comfort is by doing drugs and consuming alcohol. But I know there are other ways to de-stress. For me, what works best is playing sports and exercising, but from time to time, I just play my mobile games.