Today is National Fentanyl Awareness Day, a day of action to raise public awareness about an urgent problem: people dying at alarming rates due to illegally made fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid. In California, over 6,140 people died from a fentanyl-related overdose in 2021. Fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, and all other accidents.
Help us spread the word about the risks of fentanyl, and share this information across your networks:
- The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has a fentanyl webpage where you can learn more about fentanyl and fentanyl test strips.
- Fentanyl is cheap, potent, and profitable, so dealers use it to make fake pills. It can also be found in party drugs like cocaine and MDMA.
- If you’re considering using drugs, test your product for fentanyl, carry naloxone (Narcan), and know the signs of an overdose.
Helpful resources:
- If you are struggling with drug use and want help to make positive change, call California’s statewide treatment referral line at 800-879-2772 or connect with a harm reduction organization through CDPH’s directory.
- If you are part of an organization that is interested in distributing naloxone, read more about the DHCS Naloxone Distribution Project and learn how to apply.
- Get naloxone from your local pharmacy or by using the National Harm Reduction Coalition’s naloxone access map.