​

FENTANYL AWARENESS

Fentanyl is involved in more American youth drug deaths than heroin, meth, cocaine, benzos and Rx drugs COMBINED.

​

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. (CDC)

​

FENTANYL IS: 

A potent synthetic opioid made in a lab. 

• • *Up 50x stronger than heroin and 100x stronger than morphine.
    *A few grains of sand worth can be lethal.

• • *In Medical settings it is used as a pain reliever like oxycodone and morphine. 

  • *Two types of fentanyl: medical grade (prescribed by a doctor) and illegally made (illicit).

​

WHY SHOULD I CARE:

Fentanyl is very cheap and extremely addictive. Drug dealers are dangerously mixing illicit fentanyl with, and disguising it as, other common drugs like oxy, percocet and xanax to increase profits. This process is not regulated and does not undergo any kind of quality control. As little as two milligrams of fentanyl (two grains of sand) can kill a person.

 

Fentanyl is everywhere: an estimated 250-500 million pills made with fentanyl are in circulation in the U.S. at any time, not including powder drugs made with fentanyl such as cocaine, MDMA (molly/ecstasy), or heroin.

 

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.

 

KNOW THE FACTS & SHARE THEM:  

• Fentanyl is often found in non-pharmaceutical  made pills that look like, and are sold as, oxy, percocet, xanax, vicodin, cocaine and more. 
   

• Fentanyl is extremely potent. As little as two milligrams of fentanyl, an amount equal to two grains of sand, can kill a person.
   

• Fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, and all other accidents.
   

• Any “prescription” pill you don’t directly get from a pharmacy, or any powder form drugs purchased from a friend/drug dealer, may contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. Real prescription drugs are not available on Instagram or Snapchat. These drugs are not regulated.

 

WHAT CAN I DO:  

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.

 

Be prepared to call for help: If you witness someone experiencing the symptoms of an overdose, call 911 and request emergency medical services. 47 states and D.C. have enacted Good Samaritan laws, which provide immunity to those who call emergency services when experiencing or witnessing an overdose

​

NARCAN

 

WHAT IS IT:

Naloxone (also known as Narcan®) is a medication called an “opioid antagonist” used to counter the effects of opioid overdose.  Naloxone has no potential for abuse. It is a temporary drug sprayed up the nose that wears off in 20-90 minutes.

​

WHAT DOES IT DO:

Narcan is used in overdoses to counteract life-threatening central nervous system and respiratory system issues, allowing an overdose victim to breathe normally. 

​

WHO ADMINISTERS IT:

Often administered by emergency response personnel, naloxone can actually be administered by minimally trained laypeople including nurses, teachers, police officers and students.

​

WHERE IS IT:

The Naloxone Distribution Project provides free Naloxone to schools and universities at no cost. On October 11, 2022, the San Diego Unified School District Board executed a resolution to ensure that Narcan was available at all district campuses and that school police officers, nurses, health office staff and other staff on campus are trained to administer Naloxone at district school sites.

​

Narcan.com

​

​

​