If you require immediate medical attention, call 911 now
One Pill Can Kill.
According to the CDC, 107,375 people in the United States died of drug overdoses and drug poisonings in the 12-month period ending in January 2022. A staggering 67 percent of those deaths involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
Exercise Caution
You should NEVER take any pills or medications that are not prescribed to you by a doctor.
When these drugs are ordered on the internet, given by a friend, or purchased from a dealer or another unreliable sources, you don’t know what is really in them.
Be careful. One Pill can Kill!
Want to Learn More?
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A lethal dose of fentanyl
What is Fentanyl?
Pharmaceutical fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, approved for treating severe pain, typically advanced cancer pain. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. It is prescribed in the form of transdermal patches or lozenges and can be diverted for misuse and abuse in the United States.
However, most recent cases of fentanyl-related harm, overdose, and death in the U.S. are linked to illegally made fentanyl. It is sold through illegal drug markets for its heroin-like effect. It is often mixed with heroin and/or cocaine as a combination product—with or without the user’s knowledge—to increase its euphoric effects.
The Dangers of Fentanyl
Only two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially lethal dose.
Drugs may contain deadly levels of fentanyl, and you wouldn’t be able to see it, taste it, or smell it. It is nearly impossible to tell if drugs have been laced with fentanyl unless you test your drugs with fentanyl testing strips. Testing strips are inexpensive, typically give results within 5 minutes, and can be the difference between life or death. Even if the test is negative, caution should be taken as test strips might not detect more potent fentanyl-like drugs, like carfentanil.
Signs of Overdose
It is important to recognize an overdose. Here is what to look for:
• Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
• Falling asleep or losing consciousness
• Slow, weak, or no breathing
• Choking or gurgling sounds
• Limp body
• Cold, clammy, and/or discolored skin
What To Do
Here is what to do when you think someone is experiencing an overdose:
1. Call 911 immediately.
2. Administer naloxone if available.
3. Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
4. Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.
5. Stay with them until emergency workers arrive.
