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, yet 73% 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 w​​ith, 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.

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
1. Learn the facts & start the conversation

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, start the conversation in the classroom. Our partners in Beaverton, Oregon’s school district have developed free lesson plans for middle school and high school students available for use here.

  • Don’t stigmatize drug use. Emphasize the high risks of encountering illicitly manufactured fentanyl and how individuals can protect themselves and their community.

2. Be prepared

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, 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.

  • 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.

3. Spread the Word

Join the National Fentanyl Awareness Day coalition of 500+ partners to spread the word on May 9, 2023. Assets for social media posts, email drafts to stakeholders, and additional ways to activate are available in our toolkit.​Additional Resources:

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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?