FACTS ABOUT FENTANYL
Illicitly manufactured fentanyl and its dangers, while well-documented by health professionals and law enforcement, are largely unknown to the general population and even more so to its most vulnerable population: youth and young adults. According to the CDC, fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, and all other accidents. Among teenagers, overdose deaths linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl tripled in the past two years, nearly half have never heard of fake prescription pills being made with fentanyl.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid.
POTENT: Up to 50x stronger than heroin and 100x stronger than morphine. A few grains of sand worth can be lethal.
SYNTHETIC: Not plant-based. Made in a lab.
OPIOID: Pain reliever like oxycodone, morphine and heroin.
MEDICAL FENTANYL | ILLEGALLY MADE FENTANYL |
|---|---|
Made in a sterile factory | Made in unsanitary conditions |
Carefully blended | Sloppy mixing |
Dose is precise and consistent | Dose is random and variable |
Carefully administered by doctors | Hidden in the drug supply |
Legitimate medical uses | Increases drug dealer profits |
Death is uncommon when taken as prescribed by a doctor | Involved in the majority of U.S. drug deaths in recent years |
WHY SHOULD I CARE?
This is a national public health crisis. People, especially young people, are ingesting illicitly manufactured fentanyl without knowing it and dying at alarming rates as a result.
Fentanyl is very cheap and extremely addictive. Drug dealers are dangerously mixing illicitly manufactured fentanyl with, and disguising it as, other common drugs like Oxy, Percocet and Xanax to increase profits. It has also been found in party drugs like cocaine and MDMA. This production process is not regulated and does not undergo any kind of quality control. Users have no way of knowing what they are getting in these street drugs, putting them at significant risk of poisoning and overdose – and as little as two milligrams of fentanyl (two grains of sand) can kill a person.
The practice of cutting drugs with fentanyl is relatively new, so public awareness is low.
Educating the public about this crisis is the first step to reversing the tragic outcomes. Teach yourself and your community about the facts. Tips for communication:
If you are a parent, don’t avoid the topic. Initiate an open dialogue with your family about fentanyl to understand their knowledge of the issue and if they’re aware of fake pills.
If you’re an educator, bring this information to the classroom. Our new film Real Talk About Fake Pills brings vital fentanyl awareness to students through a powerful 20-minute film developed with medical experts and youth educators. Our accompanying discussion guide and classroom materials help foster important conversations about safety. Learn more.
Don’t stigmatize drug use. Emphasize the high risks of encountering illicitly manufactured fentanyl and how individuals can protect themselves and their community.
Above all else, keep in mind that any pill or powder drug not prescribed by a doctor may contain fentanyl. Learn how to respond accordingly:
Know the signs of an overdose: Loss of consciousness, pinpoint pupils, unresponsiveness, irregular breathing, and inability to speak are a few of the signs to look out for.
Carry naloxone: Naloxone (also referred to as Narcan) is a life-saving opioid reversal medication. It commonly comes in the form of a nasal spray. Some states and cities are making it available for free. Find naloxone near you and learn how to administer it.
Naloxone Availability
As of March 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan (4 mg naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray) for over-the-counter, nonprescription use—the first naloxone product approved for use without a prescription.
Naloxone is now available without a prescription at pharmacies across the United States. Major pharmacy chains, including Walgreens and CVS, have made naloxone available over the counter.
The cost of naloxone varies, with prices ranging from $30 to $45 for a two-dose kit.
Many health departments and community organizations also distribute naloxone kits for free.
Test the product: Some cities and states are making fentanyl test strips available. Caution: There is no such thing as a pill that has been tested for fentanyl, since the test strips require that you fully dissolve each and every entire pill in water. Test strips also do not test for every fentanyl analog.
Be prepared to call for help: If you witness someone experiencing the symptoms of an overdose/poisoning, call 911 and request emergency medical services. All 50 states and D.C. have enacted Good Samaritan laws, which typically provide immunity to those who call emergency services when experiencing or witnessing an overdose.
Good Samaritan Laws
Good Samaritan laws provide legal protection for individuals seeking emergency medical help during an overdose in all U.S. states except Wyoming. Learn more about the specific laws in your state: https://dopa.ge/good-sam
Join the National Fentanyl Awareness Day coalition of 1100+ partners to spread the word on April 29, 2025. Assets for social media posts, email drafts to stakeholders, and additional ways to activate are available in our toolkit.
Additional Resources:
General
Youth & Young Adult Communication
Harm Reduction
Mental Health & Addiction Treatment
AUTHORED BY THE EXPERT FENTANYL RESPONSE TEAM
A note on methodology: This resource was authored by the Expert Fentanyl Response Team (EFRT). The contents of this overview is informed by an assessment of the following questions:
Taking into account the chemical properties of fentanyl and what we know about toxicology and human biology, is the scenario technically possible?
Considering economic incentives in the illegal drug market, is the scenario likely?
Is there any data that confirms that the scenario has actually occurred?