- Misconception: The majority of teens believe fentanyl affects only hard drug users, creating a false sense of security
- Hidden Danger: Many teens dying from fentanyl poisonings are unaware they are consuming an illicit and lethal drug
- Risky Purchases: Teens buy familiar pills such as Adderall, Percocet, and Xanax from unreliable sources like Snapchat and Instagram
- Disturbing Statistic: Laboratory testing reveals 7 out of every 10 pills seized by the DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl
Power of Peer Influence: Teens need to hear the message! The most effective way to educate students is through friends. Knowledge saves lives! We urge policymakers to spread S.A.F.E.’s message by facilitating access to students. Our program trains and empowers teens to educate their peers about the hidden dangers of fentanyl in seemingly “harmless” drugs.
This knowledge, accompanied by the distribution of naloxone, could save young lives.
THE SITUATION:
Teen Fentanyl Crisis
THE solution:
peer to peer education
FENTANYL FACT SHEET
You cannot see, taste, or smell fentanyl.
TWO TYPES:
Pharmaceutical Fentanyl
- Prescribed and obtained from a licensed physician or pharmacy
2
1
Fentanyl's extreme potency
makes these drugs:
- cheaper to make
- more powerful
- more dangerous
- more addictive.
Illicitly Manufactured Fentanyl (IMF)
- Made and distributed through illegal drug markets with no quality control
more than double the number of fentanyl
pills seized in 2021.
in 2022, the dea seized more than 50.6 million fake pills, often laced with FENTANYL.
6
10
out of
every
Pills contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.
fake pills have been found in every single state.
WHY SHOULD I CARE?
source: fentanylawarenessday.org
This is a national public health crisis. People, especially young people, are ingesting illicitly manufactured fentanyl without knowing it and dying at alarming rates.
Fentanyl is very cheap and highly addictive. Drug dealers are dangerously disguising fentanyl as other common drugs like Oxy, Percocet, and Xanax to increase profits. It has also been found in party drugs like cocaine and ecstasy. This production process is not regulated and does not undergo any quality control. Users cannot know what they are getting in these street drugs, putting them at significant risk of poisoning and overdose – and as little as two milligrams of fentanyl (two grains of sand) can kill a person.
Cutting drugs with fentanyl is relatively new, so public awareness is low.
01. educate yourself
- Learn the facts & start the conversation.
- School Districts - ODE Toolkit for Schools
- Don't stigmatize drug use. Stress the serious dangers of coming into contact with illegally made fentanyl and the ways in which people can protect themselves and their community.
what can i do to help?
source: fentanylawarenessday.org
02. prepare yourself
The Good Samaritan Law protects you and the person experiencing an overdose
FL senate law section 21 893.21
Carry
narcan
Naloxone (also called Narcan) is THE ONLY life-saving opioid reversal medication.
NARCAN
4mg
RECENT HIGHSCHOOL VICTIMS OF
FENTANYL POISONINGS
Some died right before senior year, some died during senior year, and some died after their senior year. They were all poisoned.
GABRIELLA
MATTHEW
ZACHARIAH
DAKOTA
SEBASTIAN
CHRISTOPHER
DEVIN
EMILIO
LAUREN
JUSTIN
AUSTEN
JOHN
HEAVEN LEIGH
ARNOLD
CARTER
JERAD
BRETT
BRIAN
ZACH
CHASIDY
TYLER
RAY
ALEX
JORDAN
JORDAN
LEE
MARIAH
CALEB
CARMEN
KIANA
MATTHEW
TIFFANY
ROBERT
COLE
DAVID
JULIA
TASH
SPENCER
HAILEY
KELLY
DAMON
JULIA
JOHN
JACOB
JACLYN
HUNTER
KEVIN
TREVOR
CECE
MATTHEW
RYAN
ALYSSA
RECENT teenage (under 17) VICTIMS
These teens did not get the chance to have a future. They died of fentanyl poisoning, many after just one pill. All of their hopes and dreams gone.
MARK 14
ALEXIS 17
MIKAYLA 16
JOEY 17
NOAH 16
JOSIE 14
TRISTAIN 16
LUCA 13
ZAKARY 15
LOGAN 16
ELANA 15
HARLEY 16
ABRAHAM 16
TRENT 17
OLIVIA 15
RACHEL 17
MIKAYLA 16
JASON 17
ARNOLD 17
LEVI 15
HANNAH 15
MICHAEL 15
OWEN 15
OLIVIA 17
BREANNA 16
KAYLIE 17
ZELAYA 17
MANUEL 17
LIZZY 14
ZACH 17
ZACHARIAH 17
ISSIAH 15
JAMES 17
JACOB 15
ALEXANDER 14
VICTOR 16
JONATHAN 17
COOPER 16
SEBATIAN 17
Not an overdose.
Parents of victims of fentanyl poisoning respond to commenters arguing against using the word "poisoning" to describe what happened to their loved ones.
Texas Picture Documentaries
what is narcan:
Narcan/Naloxone is a nasal spray that blocks opioid effects by binding to the opioid receptors in the body. Thus, it reverses drug overdoses in minutes. It lasts about 30-90 mins, and a second dose of Naloxone may be used again if overdose symptoms reappear.
To learn more about NARCAN®, visit the NARCAN® site by clicking here.
Carrying Naloxone is no different than carrying an EpiPen for allergies. It simply provides an extra layer of protection.
NARCAN SAVES LIVES.
National Institutes on Health: National Institute on Drug Abuse: Overdose Death Rates
https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates
WHERE TO GET NARCAN?
source: narcan.com
As of 2022, every state has a law that allows people to get Narcan without an individual prescription. This means if you need Narcan for yourself, you can get it without a healthcare provider needing to write you a prescription. The specific rules vary by state, but the details of these laws are available to read here.
"How Cities and States Are Making Narcan More Accessible" Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS
https://www.goodrx.com/naloxone/narcan-distribution-programs
more information at cdc.gov/stopoverdose
REVERSING OPIOID OVERDOSES WITH
WHAT IS NALOXONE?
Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids, including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications.1 Often given as a nasal spray, naloxone is safe and easy to use.
Naloxone quickly reverses an overdose by blocking the effects of opioids. It can restore normal breathing within 2 to 3 minutes in a person whose breath has slowed, or even stopped, as a result of opioid overdose. More than one dose of naloxone may be required when stronger opioids like fentanyl are involved.3
Naloxone is easy to use and light to carry. There are two forms of naloxone that anyone can use without medical training or authorization:
Nasal spray -
Prefilled devices that spray
Injectable – Medication (solution) given by injection into a muscle or under the skin.
medication into the nose.
If you give someone naloxone, stay with them until emergency help arrives or for at least four hours to ensure their breathing returns to normal.3 Good Samaritan laws are in place in most states to protect those who are overdosing and anyone assisting them in an emergency from arrest, charges, or a combination of these.
Learn about the laws in your state.
WHY CARRY NALOXONE
Naloxone saves lives.
With the right tools, bystanders can act to prevent overdose deaths. Anyone can carry naloxone, give it to someone experiencing an overdose, and potentially save a life. Naloxone won’t harm someone3 if they’re overdosing on drugs other than opioids, so it’s always best to use it if you think someone is overdosing.
80% of overdose deaths occurred inside a home.*
In nearly 40% of overdose deaths, someone else was present.5
Having naloxone available allows those bystanders to help a fatal overdose and save lives.
SIGNS OF OPIOID OVERDOSE
Recognizing the signs of opioid overdose can save a life. Here are some things to look for:
- - - -
Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils” Falling asleep or losing consciousness Slow, weak, or no breathing
Choking or gurgling sounds
- - -
Limp body
Cold and/or clammy skin
Discolored skin (especially in lips and nails)
WHO SHOULD CARRY NALOXONE?
If you or someone you know is at increased risk for opioid overdose, especially those struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD), you should carry naloxone and keep it at home. People who are taking high-dose opioid medications (greater or equal to 50 morphine milligram equivalents per day) prescribed by a doctor, people who use opioids and benzodiazepines together, and people who use illicit opioids like heroin should all carry naloxone. Because you can’t use naloxone on yourself, let others know you have it in case you experience an opioid overdose.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK SOMEONE IS OVERDOSING
It may be hard to tell whether a person is high or experiencing an overdose. If you aren’t sure, it’s best to treat the situation like an overdose—you could save a life.
Call 911 immediately.**
Administer naloxone, if available.
Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.
Stay with them until emergency workers arrive.
1. Life-Saving Naloxone from Pharmacies. (2019). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/naloxone/index.html
2. Harm Reduction TO — Naloxone: Overdose Reversal https://harmreductionto.ca/naloxone
3. Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit. (2018). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma18-4742.pdf https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-
4. National Institutes on Health: National Institute on Drug Abuse: Overdose Death Rates
5. O’Donnell J, Gladden RM, Mattson CL, Hunter CT, Davis NL. Vital Signs: Characteristics of Drug Overdose Deaths Involving Opioids and Stimulants — 24 States and the District of Columbia, January–June 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:1189–1197. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6935a1
*Based on CDC Vital Signs report.
**Most states have laws that protect a person who is overdosing or the person who called for help from legal trouble.
impact stories
Source: Song for Charlie
RECENT NEWS ARTICLES
News Nation: Florida Schools Launch Fentanyl Awareness Campaign
How to Protect Loved Ones
Fentanyl Drug Facts
Educational
RESOURCES
Classroom Discussion Questions:
- Why is it important to be aware of the risks of drugs made with fentanyl and other substances?
- What are counterfeit pills and why do they matter?
- How has fentanyl changed the drug landscape?
- What is the role of social media in teen safety?
- What is the role of government, schools, families, & corporations in protecting kids?
- How can students protect themselves and their friends from substance dangers?
- What are some ways I can keep myself safe and healthy given the stresses in my life?
CRISIS LINES AND TREATMENT RESOURCES
TEEN LINK is a confidential crisis line specifically for teens. Teen volunteers answer calls and are trained to talk with you about whatever you’re facing. Call 1-866-833-6546 to talk to someone.
NEVER USE ALONE provides a life-saving, judgment-free point of contact for people who use drugs alone. Crisis line operators will stay on the phone with you while you use it and notify emergency services in the event that you become unresponsive. Call 1-800-484-3731 for this free service. Services are available in both Spanish and Portuguese
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis to call, text or chat online at 988lifeline.org. Calls may be responded to in English or Spanish. Text and online chat are currently only available in English. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
Fentanyl Fathers is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that educates students about the dangers of fentanyl. The group's goal is to create a world where no teenager succumbs to fentanyl poisoning or overdose. The group travels from school to school, educating teenagers about the dangers of taking one deadly dose. They raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, counterfeit pills, and effective overdose response measures.