Fentanyl 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.

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

  • 7 in 10 fake prescription pills are lethal fentanyl, or 70% (from DEA lab data).

  • in 2021, 77% of all teen drug related deaths were from fentanyl.

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

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

  • From the CDC, there were an estimated 72,800 fentanyl related deaths in the United States in 2022, and slight increase from 71,000 fentanyl deaths in 2021. In 2020, there were 57,800 fentanyl related deaths.

  • From the California Department of Public Health, in the year 2021 there were 5722 fentanyl related deaths in California, up from 3857 in 2020, 48% increase.

  • 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.

  • OVERDOSE CAN BE QUIET. Call 911 immediately if someone is unresponsive, never let them sleep it off. Know the signs of an opioid 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.