Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid prescribed by doctors to treat pain. When it's made illegally and mixed with other drugs, it can be dangerous.
Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
Source: CDCIn 2020, 76% of drug deaths in people ages 14-23 involved fentanyl.
Source: CDCThe DEA Laboratory has found that, of the fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills analyzed in 2023, 70% now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
Source: DEAFentanyl clumps together, so it's not evenly distributed in a batch of drugs. If you have four pills, one can be fatal even if the others aren't.
Source: BTNX Inc.Drug overdose deaths in people ages 10-19 more than doubled from 2019 to 2021, with 84% of these deaths involving illicit fentanyl.
Source: CDCFentanyl can be made cheaply from chemicals. It may be mixed with other drugs to make them stronger, or may be an unintentional contaminant in other drugs. Fentanyl is found in cocaine, methamphetamines, molly/MDMA, and counterfeit pills that look like real medication.
Even if you know and trust the person who gave you the drug, it still could contain fentanyl. Learn the signs of an overdose, and be prepared to act.
2 mg of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose. That's about the size of a few grains of sand.
You can’t see, smell, or taste if a drug contains fentanyl. Fentanyl test strips can show if fentanyl is present, but not how much.
Important: Fentanyl test strips are only legal in some states. Use this guide to check if they are legal near you.
No. This is a myth. You can't overdose by touching fentanyl or being near it.
If you're with someone who overdoses, you’re not in danger. Stay with them and be prepared to act. You could save their life.
Yes. Naloxone can reverse a fentanyl overdose, and it's easy to use. But because fentanyl is so strong, you may need more than one naloxone dose. If someone shows signs of an overdose, call 911.
Fentanyl is cheap to manufacture and its strong potency means it can be transported in smaller quantities more easily than other drugs. Fentanyl has partially replaced other opioids, specifically heroin, for trafficking into the United States. There are many variables when it comes to what people sell and buy, including price, purity, availability, and risk tolerance.
Locally, fentanyl may be sold to people who are seeking opioids, but it may also be combined into other drugs to stretch or strengthen the supply. For example, fentanyl is increasingly being found in fake versions of prescription pills - these are pills that might look like they are legitimate, but are really counterfeits that might not even include any of original medication that someone thinks they are buying. Fentanyl contaminations of other drugs may be intentional or unintentional, depending on availability and dealer. This makes every dose a gamble.
Some people have heard about fentanyl overdoses, but don’t know how widespread the problem is. Others may not be aware of fentanyl at all. You can help save lives by spreading the word and sharing dropthefbomb.com with your parents.