About Fentanyl and Synthetic Drugs
Fentanyl is an extremely strong opioid that doctors may give during surgery and to treat severe pain. Recently, criminal organizations have started making their own version of fentanyl. This "illicit" fentanyl is sold as a powder and added to other drugs like heroin.
It is also pressed into
fake pills that are stamped to look like prescription opioids (e.g., oxycodone, Percocet®️), as well as medications that treat anxiety (e.g., Xanax®️), or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (e.g., Adderall®️). Students may unknowingly purchase illicit fentanyl when attempting to buy genuine medications through friends, social media, or illegitimate online pharmacies.
Fentanyl has caused a surge in overdose deaths among youth and adults. It has a high overdose risk because it is very concentrated–it is 50 times as strong as heroin. The crude way in which these drugs are mixed makes each dose unpredictable, increasing the risk.
Fentanyl is synthetic–that is, it is formed from lab-made chemicals and not from naturally occurring ingredients. This makes it cheaper to manufacture and more profitable to sell illegally. Another synthetic drug, xylazine, is increasingly being added alongside illicit fentanyl.
Xylazine is a strong tranquilizer that veterinarians use to sedate large animals like horses. The combined effect of these two drugs on breathing and the heart further increases the risk of death.
Five Things Families Need to Know about Fentanyl and Fake Pills provides a quick definition of fentanyl and counterfeit pills, local data, starting points for discussing the issue with teens, strategies to reduce access at home, and a brief description of naloxone.
Download this resource as a printable PDF via
Google Drive or by using the links below:
Five Things Families Need to Know about Fentanyl and Fake Pills provides a quick definition of fentanyl and counterfeit pills, local data, starting points for discussing the issue with teens, strategies to reduce access at home, and a brief description of naloxone.
Download this resource as a set of social media post images via
Google Drive or by using the links below:
Presentations
PARENT WORKSHOPS
Prevention: It Starts With You!
This one-hour workshop is designed to provide an overview of current drug trends, including fentanyl, vaping, and cannabis, as well as equip parents with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to identify and prevent youth drug use. Available to all districts and schools in Orange County, in English or Spanish, in-person or virtual with flexible scheduling.
Schedule Now
STAFF TRAININGS
Fentanyl and Fake Pills: What Educators Need to Know
This 30-minute workshop is designed to provide an overview of fentanyl, counterfeit pills, and naloxone, and how school staff can engage students in prevention conversations. Available to all districts and schools in Orange County, in English, in-person or virtual with flexible scheduling. A 20-minute condensed version is also available.
Schedule Now
Naloxone (NARCAN®️)
Get Naloxone for Free
The emergency medication naloxone can stop an opioid overdose and help restore breathing. The Orange County Health Care Agency and a number of community-based organizations have partnered to provide naloxone to families and individuals at
no cost.
Visit
Fentanyl is Forever OC to find a location.
