Fentanyl Facts

And FAQs

OVERDOSE CAN BE QUIET.

Call 911 immediately if someone is unresponsive, never let them sleep it off. Know the signs of an opioid poisoning or overdose.

KNOW THE RISKS.

Using opioids can lead to addiction, overdose death, car accidents and suicide.

BE A FRIEND. SAVE A LIFE.

Encourage your friend to stop using and get help.

The

Facts

  • Fentanyl is the most potent of all opioid drugs; it is up to 50 times more potent than heroin, 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

  • Illicit fentanyl is being produced in China and sold to drug cartels, who are pressing into fake pills, and putting in cocaine and heroin.

  • Only 2 milligrams of fentanyl powder is enough to kill an average sized adult.

  • Fentanyl is the number one cause of death in the U.S. for ages 18-45, ahead of Covid, suicide and car accidents.

  • Nearly 50% of teens are unaware counterfeit pils may contain lethal amounts of fentanyl.

  • 75% of all teen drug related deaths were from fentanyl.

  • From the CDC, the highest year of fentanyl deaths was in 2022 estimated at 73,800 in the United States. There was a 3% decrease in 2023 with an estimated 72,00 deaths.

  • From the California Department of Public Health, in the year 2022 there were 6500 estimated fentanyl deaths. In 2023, this increased to 7137 deaths.

  • For most victims, fentanyl was not their drug of choice. Rather, they were poisoned by dealers who sold them fake pills, cocaine or heroin made with fentanyl.

DEA Image

DEA Image

FAQs

  • Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is 50 time more potent than heroin and 50-100 times more potent than morphine.

  • The DEA has tested seized fake prescription pills and 3 out of 10, or 30%, are a lethal dose of fentanyl.

  • Most people that die by ingesting fentanyl are not aware they are taking it, they intend to take another drug like a prescription pill, cocaine or heroin.  Drug traffickers are deceptively putting fentanyl in all street drugs, the victim was unaware, and the fentanyl in the drug was so potent it killed them.

  • Fentanyl clumps together when mixed with a filler. Think of a fake prescription pill like a chocolate chip cookie.  The chocolate chips are not distributed evenly throughout the cookie, like fentanyl is in a fake pill.  There are some parts of the pill that contain filler, and parts that contain fentanyl.  You just don’t know where it is in the pill.  Don’t take the chance.

  • Drug traffickers and dealers are preying on teens and young adults by selling on social media platforms like Snapchat and online.  Some are getting from a friend, and that friend is getting on social media or online.

    ONLY get your prescription medication from a licensed doctor or legitimate pharmacist.  DO NOT get any prescription medications from a friend.

  • A lethal dose of fentanyl is 2 milligrams.  This amount fits on the tip of a pencil.

  • Fentanyl is cheap to purchase for drug traffickers and they are making huge profits.  They don’t care about the lives they are taking.  Fentanyl is highly addictive as well, so they are trying to keep their customers coming back.

  • Drug traffickers are going straight to fentanyl to make illicit drugs as it’s cheap, easy to make (it’s synthetic and made in a lab), and can get it year-round.  They are no longer waiting for crops to grow for cocaine or heroin.  Fentanyl can be supplied to drug traffickers on a consistent basis and they are making huge profits.  They do not have quality control and do not know how to properly dose fentanyl.  Every batch of fake prescription pills is not consistent and 50% of fake pills made are deadly.

  • Naloxone, or Narcan (brand name) is an FDA approved drug that reverses an opioid overdose.  Narcan comes is a nasal spray of 4 mg, and there are two doses to a pack.  We distribute naloxone for free. All major pharmacy chains carry naloxone. Click here to learn where to get Narcan and how to administer it.

  • Fentanyl test strips are easy to use paper strips that test a substance for fentanyl.   Results show up in two minutes, with one red line showing fentanyl and two lines showing no fentanyl.  Follow all instructions that come with the fentanyl test strips, and TEST THE ENTIRE SUBSTANCE.  Remember, only 2 milligrams of fentanyl is deadly.

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