Fentanyl Awareness
The safety and well-being of our community is always of utmost importance. We’re doing our part to raise public awareness about an urgent problem.
Currently, fentanyl is being found in nearly all street drugs. Fentanyl is now involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause, including heart disease, cancer, homicide, suicide, and other accidents.
We invite you to take action with us today to help spread the word and save lives:
- Watch & Talk – Watch our four-minute Counterfeit Pills – You Need to Know video.
- Recognize & Respond – Watch this video to learn the signs of an overdose and how to respond.
Did you know?
More than 2,000 people in the Commonwealth of Virginia died from opioid-related deaths in 2023.
Over 150 people die each day in the United States from opioids like fentanyl.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a dangerous opioid often mixed with other drugs without your knowledge. Even in small doses, fentanyl can be deadly.
- Fentanyl is the biggest contributor to overdose deaths in Virginia – most people who died of a drug overdose took a drug containing fentanyl.
“Two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage.”
What are the signs and symptoms of a fentanyl overdose?
- Small, constricted pupils
- Sleepiness, in a daze, or loss of consciousness
- Slow, weak breathing or not breathing at all; choking or gurgling sounds
- Limp body
- Cold, clammy, or discolored skin, especially lips and nails, which may turn blue
If you suspect an overdose:
Get help immediately! Call 911!
- Naloxone/Narcan, available in many schools, may reverse the
effects of the overdose, thus saving a person’s life.
Resources for the whole family:
How to stay safe:
- Remember to say NO. Even if offered by a friend, it doesn’t mean the pill is safe.
- Stay informed. Learn about the risks of fentanyl and other dangerous substances.
- Ask for help. If you or a friend struggle with drug use, seek the help of a trusted adult, school counselor, coach, or your school’s nurse.
