Carrying Cooper’s Legacy Forward: A Conversation with Harold Noriega
Before his passing on June 9, 2022, Cooper used his social media platform to create a space focused on helping young people openly discuss mental health, addiction, and the challenges they face without stigma or judgment. His mission was rooted in compassion, connection, and reminding others that they were not alone. Today, the Coop’s Advice Foundation continues that work through education and awareness around mental health, fentanyl, substance use, and overdose prevention. We sat down with Cooper’s father, Harold Noriega, to reflect on who Cooper was, the mission he created, and how his family and community are carrying forward his message of Love, Hope, and Encouragement.
Can you share who Cooper was beyond his public platform and what you most want people to understand about him?
“Cooper has always been an empath and deeply cared for others. Ever since he was very young he would always stick up for other kids if they were being picked on or bullied. He later became that friend everyone would come to talk to if they were having problems. That is what people loved about him. That he cared so much for other people. That is the part of his personality that led him to reach out to you and Endoverdose”.
What was Cooper’s original vision, and why was creating a safe space for young people so important to him?
“Cooper has explained on various social platforms that he struggled with mental health and addiction. He felt the stigma of both but knew that these issues were very real and could be extremely painful. He wanted to change how society viewed addiction and mental health and that it is Ok to not be Ok. To find a safe place for others, especially his peers to open up to talk about their struggles and most importantly, not feel alone. You are not alone. Because just as we have struggles with our physical health, every human being struggles with mental health”.
How did Cooper’s relationship with End Overdose begin, and what drew him to overdose-prevention work?
“It is my understanding that Coop came across End Overdose on social media. He was one of the first to start talking about the dangers of fentanyl and how it was being mixed in every type of drug. He wanted to promote the use of Naloxone because he knew kids were going to experiment or use drugs and there was a high risk of dying from Fentanyl poisoning”.
What has it meant to you and your family to continue the work Cooper started?
“First of all, in this space of survivors of loved ones killed by Fentanyl poisoning, almost all of the fentanyl awareness and educational foundations were started by the survivors of the loved ones poisoned by Fentanyl. We are the only ones that I am aware of that were not started by us, my wife and daughter. The Coop's Advice Foundation was started by his closest friends that wanted to continue the dreams that Cooper had started: support of End Overdose and continue the Coop's Advice Discord platform. To be able continue what Cooper started has been extremely helpful to our family with dealing with the grief from his death”.
How has losing Cooper changed the way you understand fentanyl, substance use, and the risks young people face today?
“When I am in a private or public speaking forum I often state that "If I knew then what I know now..." At the time of his passing, we did not know how prevalent fentanyl was and that it is in everything that is not from a government regulated source. The fentanyl landscape is a minefield and it is not a matter of if you die, it is a matter of when you die. The risks are so severe with the odds completely against you if you are going to experiment or use any drugs”.
Why do you believe parents and families need to have more open conversations about mental health, counterfeit pills, and overdose prevention?
“I am a proponent of having direct conversations with our children. They are making adult decisions that have grave adult consequences. I believe our youth needs to be empowered with the knowledge of exactly this landscape, this minefield that they are entering into. By being empowered with the knowledge of what fentanyl is, how what they think may be a legitimate drug has an overwhelming statistic of being a counterfeit drug with a lethal dose of fentanyl that will result in death. If you know the risks, my hope is that these kids will consider making different choices. Because it is their choice to make. No one else will be there to make that choice for them. The empowerment of knowledge is power that will save lives that do not need to die, like Cooper”.
What role can naloxone education and access play in preventing other families from experiencing a similar loss?
“I do not believe we are ever going to eliminate the use of illegal drugs. But by knowing about Naloxone and having it and knowing how to administer it, I believe we can greatly reduce the deaths of those who would have died if someone did not have Naloxone with them and knew how to administer it. Save lives and let's keep working on the "why" part of someone taking drugs”.
How have Coop’s Advice and End Overdose worked together to carry Cooper’s message forward?
Since Cooper's death, both organizations have continued to support each other's work and platforms. We have done education videos, podcasts, merchandise sales, attended and spoke at public events. Theo and his team are doing invaluable work. We will continue to support End Overdose in any way that we can. Coop would be proud of what End Overdose has achieved and the many lives they have saved”.
What do you wish more young people understood about counterfeit medications and fentanyl poisoning?
“The one thing I would like our youth to understand about counterfeit drugs is that fentanyl is in everything. It is now being found marijuana and vape cartridges because these two in particular have been "normalized" because they are "legal". Nothing is no longer safe unless you receive it directly from a U.S. pharmacys”.
What do you hope Cooper’s legacy inspires people to do within their own families and communities?
“It is my hope that parents, educators, coaches etc can create an open and safe space to talk about drugs in order to empower others with the knowledge of this dangerous environment. It is an environment that although we are making progress has a long way to go to eliminate it from our society. It is also my hope that we will look at the mental health aspect of this. Mental health is the underlying root. In an open and safe environment, we need to start talking and looking at the "why" we are choosing to use a drug that comes with such a high degree of risk of death. There are many other positive and healthy choices one can make to deal with our struggles versus a negative and unhealthy choice that could very well result in your death. Coop's message was about Love, Hope and Encouragement. We will continue his message and if we save just one life, mission accomplished. create a intro for harold noriega and coops advice”.
