Wednesday, August 21st is National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. This observance was established in 2022 to remember loved ones lost to overdoses involving illegally made fentanyl, acknowledge the devastation of affected families and friends, and raise public awareness of the dangers of illegally made fentanyl. The theme this year is Be the Voice for Change: Take Action Against Illegally Made Fentanyl.
You can be the voice for change and take action against illegally made fentanyl and save lives by:
- Keeping naloxone readily available on you and at home. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids—including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications—when given in time. Naloxone is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico and at pharmacies in most states without a prescription. Having naloxone available allows bystanders to help save lives by preventing a fatal overdose.
- Never taking pills that did not come from a pharmacy and weren’t prescribed to you. Be aware that pills bought illegally might contain highly potent illegal drugs. Drugs mixed with fentanyl are extremely dangerous, and many people may be unaware that their drugs contain it.
- Avoiding mixing drugs. Whether intentional or not, mixing drugs like cocaine, opioids, and alcohol is never safe because the effects from combining drugs may be stronger and more unpredictable than one drug alone, and even deadly.