‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ program will shine a light on teens’ risky behavior

A “Hidden in Plain Sight” program, scheduled for Jan. 8 at Annandale High School, could help save a youth’s life.

The program, hosted by the PTSA and presented by Fairfax County Police officers, will advise parents and others who work with teens to recognize red flags indicating risky behavior, such as drug and alcohol use, vaping, and risky sexual behavior, and signs of mental and emotional health issues.

The session, in Clausen Hall at 7 p.m., is open to all parents, guardians, coaches, youth leaders, and community members, but the PTSA asks people not to bring minor children.

Annandale PTSA Vice President Thurraya “Rai” Kent wishes she had attended a program like this before her son died of an overdose last year. Now she wants everyone to have a better understanding of what’s going on with their children’s lives.

“I want people to have compassion for our children – it could be anyone,” Rai says. “It could be one mistake.”

Malcolm Kent’s death, at age 17, on Jan. 28, was ruled “accidental fentanyl poisoning.”

“Malcolm was a character, larger than life,” his mother says. He had disciplinary issues at Annandale High School, which she later learned “had to do with standing up for the little guy.”

As he was on the autism spectrum, “he sometimes didn’t get the nuances of things.” He thought in terms of black and white, had a quirky sense of humor, she said, and “he gave the best hugs ever. He hugged with everything he had.”

“He liked to encourage kids that didn’t seem to fit in because he said he knew what it’s like, but he had challenges keeping himself encouraged,” she continued.

After a discipline issue, Malcolm transferred to the Quander Road School.

Rai Kent believes his drug problem started with vaping, and decries the many vape stores in Annandale, which she believes makes drug use seem legitimate.  

At the time of his overdose, Malcolm had been through treatment and counseling and proudly wore the sobriety bracelets he had been given for every week he remained drug-free.

Related story: Justice HS overdose victim identified

After he died, the police didn’t find anything on his computer or phone to indicate he was taking or seeking drugs, Rai said. The last text he sent was about trying to help someone else with a problem.

She doesn’t know how Malcolm got the pill that killed him, but she does know kids were passing pills around and they didn’t know what was in them. Fentanyl often shows up in fake prescription medications.

Teens at risk often avoid reaching out to adults. “When it comes to risky behavior, they talk to each other. They don’t want to get anyone in trouble,” she said.

“One thing we learned from talking to counselors and the police is these kids are just trying to get through the day and be okay,” Rai said. “They think they’re invincible” and don’t understand the danger of taking unknown pills.

She said people who come to the Hidden in Plain Sight presentation “will be surprised at how many things kids can buy in regular stores that can be fatal.”

“I don’t know how to convince parents, guardians, and community leaders that it is better to have this information and never use it than not to have it at all,” Rai said.  

She meets regularly with other parents who lost a child at meetings of a Compassionate Friends group. At the most recent meeting, they focused on how to get through the holidays. This will be their family’s first Christmas without Malcolm.

Related story: Police educate Annandale residents on the fentanyl crisis

“I don’t think many people understand or feel the gravity when they hear about a life lost unnecessarily or forever altered due to risky or challenging behaviors. You can’t put this pain in words,” she said.

“The issues and challenges our youth are facing is a community problem, not a school problem. we must work together.” Kids don’t have the life experiences to be able to address their problems, she said. “We can’t discipline our children out of risky behavior if the discipline results in further isolation and stigma.”

Rai encourages people to come to the Hidden in Plain Sight session to learn as much as they can. “You always want to say, ‘I did the best I could with the knowledge I had.’”