Please start with your name, age, and where you go to school. 

My full name is Pablo Armando Chinchilla. I'm 17 at the moment, but I'll be 18 in six months. I am a senior at Los Angeles Senior High School. 

So Pablo, what is it like being 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, like 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 area, which was very quiet, and I didn't really know anyone; it was really 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 that KARS existed, but I had a friend, Brianna, who used to attend this program, and she 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 also learned that I could help the community by participating in community service events and could spread the word about [substances] and how they impact our communities, schools, and environment.

Opioids and stimulants have an impact in 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 and stuff.

How does the drug usage at your school make you feel?

Initially, it was none of my business. In a way, it makes me feel upset and disappointed because if they continue down this path in the future, they could end up homeless or addicted to drugs, and 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 whom 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 peer pressured into drinking alcohol.

Would you recommend KARS to those people who are misusing substances? 

I would recommend KARS because after being in this program for about a month, I learned that this is a helpful program and there are good recovery services. 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? 

To be honest, they're not doing enough. I've been to streets like Skid Row and MacArthur Park, and I just see people leaning over, and they look homeless. I think 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 where I can educate other people about drug usage. One solution that I believe can stop opioid addiction is if, although controversial, we start banning over-the-counter medication. Although that's very controversial, I think 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, I think 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 in KARS, I've heard that we're going to make social media posts, and I'm really looking forward to that because I can make posts and spread awareness to my friends and family.