Dover youth group educates community on dangers of counterfeit pills

A youth group from Dover is raising awareness about fake medication days after police shut down a counterfeit pill operation in Manchester. Youth to Youth, a peer-oriented drug prevention program created by the Dover Police Department, recently launched the “Dealer is not a Doctor” campaign.The campaign aims to educate students and the community about the dangers of fake pills sold by criminal networks, which often contain lethal doses of fentanyl. “I'm sure all of us here are seeing these kinds of substances harming our peers and our friends in our schools, and so it's really important for us as youth to step in and share that message with everyone else,” said Megan Merrigan, one of the Dover youth leaders. Merrigan and 39 other youth activists campaigned at Dover Rotary Gardens, holding posters and chanting to show support.“It’s great to see the amount of energy these young people have trying to deliver a message as important as this,” said Dover police Lt. Alex Mitrushi.Police said that young people communicating with each other is especially effective in addressing this issue.