Today is the first ever Fentanyl Awareness Day. The goal is to raise awareness of this substance that is claiming the lives of so many people around the country and in Connecticut. Fentanyl is responsible for 85% of accidental overdose deaths in Connecticut. Check out our new fentanyl awareness page for more information.
To help spread the word, share social media posts from You Think You Know on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you're writing your own message, use these hashtags:
#fentanylawarenessday #youthinkyouknow #itonlytakesone
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a legitimate prescription drug. It is a powerful synthetic opioid that is prescribed to treat severe pain associated with cancer or nerve damage. The fentanyl that we hear about in the news is Illicitly made. It is sold as a powder and is added to nasal sprays, put into eye droppers or on blotter paper. It can also be mixed with other drugs to increase potency. One of the most common places fentanyl is appearing is in counterfeit prescription drugs.
Counterfeit Pills
As of September 2021, more than 9.5 million counterfeit pills were seized in the U.S. In Connecticut, more than 86,000 counterfeit pills were seized in 2021. National data shows 2 out of 5 counterfeit pills contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. Drug dealers use pill presses to press to manufacture pills that look almost identical to the real thing. Xanax, Adderall and OxyContin are some of the most common counterfeit pills.
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