May 7 - National Fentanyl Awareness Day

May 7, is National Fentanyl Awareness Day, a day of action to raise public awareness about lethal, illegally made fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid that is causing people to overdose and die by overdose at alarming rates. In California, over 6,473 people died from a fentanyl-related overdose in 2022. Fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, and all other accidents.
 
Please help us spread the word about the risks of fentanyl and share this information across your networks:

• Know Overdose Nevada County has a webpage with trainings and information about how to obtain naloxone and fentanyl testing strips across Nevada County.
• The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has a webpage where you can learn more about fentanyl and fentanyl test strips.
• Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Even in small doses, it can be deadly.
• Fentanyl is cheap, potent, and profitable, so dealers use it to make fake pills. It can also be found in party drugs like cocaine and MDMA.
• If you’re considering using drugs: 1) test your product for fentanyl using a fentanyl test strip, 2) carry naloxone, and 3) know the signs of an overdose.

Helpful resources:

• If you are struggling with a substance use disorder and want support, call California’s statewide treatment referral line at 800-879-2772 or connect with a harm reduction organization through CDPH’s directory.
• If your organization is interested in distributing naloxone or fentanyl test strips, learn about the DHCS Naloxone Distribution Project and how to apply.
• Get naloxone from your local pharmacy or by using the National Harm Reduction Coalition’s naloxone access map.