Illenium × California Department of Public Health

EDM artist ILLENIUM is partnering with the California Department of Public Health to talk about the dangers of Fentanyl, his own substance use disorder, and opioid overdose prevention strategies and tools.

ILLENIUM's story is one of second chances. 

When Nick Miller (professionally known as EDM artist and producer ILLENIUM) talks about his own substance use disorder and recovery, what shines through is a sense of purpose, of gratitude, and of empathy for others who are struggling with substance use. 

That empathy, combined with his personal experiences, make him uniquely suited for this partnership with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). This campaign is designed to spread awareness and education, but the end goal is much loftier: ILLENIUM and the CDPH are out to save lives.

Be Educated.

This campaign focuses on the increasing risks of Fentanyl overdose in California. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that has been showing up in other illicit substances. Because it is odorless and flavorless, people using other illicit substances often have no idea that Fentanyl is present. This is particularly dangerous because even a tiny amount of Fentanyl (equivalent to a few grains of salt) can be fatal. 

This campaign educates about the dangers of hidden Fentanyl and shares overdose prevention strategies and tools.

Be Prepared.

From the CDPH: “Naloxone is a lifesaving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose, and save a life. With the right tools, bystanders can act to help prevent overdose death.”

Naloxone is safe to use and works almost immediately–and because it’s administered through a nasal spray, nearly anyone can learn how to use it in a life-threatening situation. In the event of an overdose, the timely administration of Naloxone can save a life.

Together with ILLENIUM, the CDPH is sharing information about where Naloxone is available for purchase without a prescription or for free at a local community organization.

Be Aware

This campaign also includes information about how to spot an overdose.

From the campaign: “If someone can’t be woken up, is breathing slowly or not at all, has clammy hands, or discolored skin, they might be in trouble.”

ILLENIUM invokes the sense of community he feels being part of the EDM scene as he encourages fans to watch out for each other and be aware of the signs of an overdose. Keenly aware of his own phoenix-like rise from mental health and substance use disorders, ILLENIUM wants fans to know that by being educated, prepared, and aware, they could be someone’s second chance.

A Personal Note:

Inspired by ILLENIUM’s openness, I’m going to be super honest for a minute here: writing this campaign blog was really difficult. 

The creative content resonated with me on a deeply personal level and I had a really hard time shifting into an objective, impartial writing mindset. 

I also recognized just how important the message behind this campaign is and knew that I wanted to “get it right” (especially because our team did such an amazing job and they deserve all of the recognition for their superb work).

I sat down at my computer several times only to find myself staring at the blinking cursor as I struggled to come up with the right words to do the campaign justice. 

I finally decided that my emotional reaction was a good thing–and a solid indicator that our team has created something truly impactful.

I’m always proud of our work here at MAX but this particular campaign exemplifies the power that music has to change (and save) lives. I don’t know that anything I could write could fully capture the significance of this campaign, so I’m going to stop rambling and encourage you to check it out for yourself.

Get to Know ILLENIUM

GRAMMY-nominated ILLENIUM, a Denver-based electronic artist, has revolutionized music with a blend of electronic, dubstep, and pop, amassing over 7 billion streams. Known for record-breaking shows like Trilogy: Colorado and the ILLENIUM LIVE World Tour, his innovative sound and impactful festivals have cemented his position as a leading force in the electronic music scene. ILLENIUM has created and curated his festival, Ember Shores, in Cancún, Mexico, for the last two years. He will be bringing his trilogy show to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on February 2nd and 3rd of 2024.

Follow ILLENIUM on Social / Streaming: