Fentanyl: One Pill Can Kill

CDC: Protect yourself from the dangers of fentanyl

JavaScript is Disabled

JavaScript is required to watch videos on this site. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings to view them.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

The drug landscape has changed.

Illegal fentanyl has made its way into the drug supply, and it's a danger you might not see coming.

A synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin, up to 100 times stronger than morphine, it only takes the tiniest amount to cause a fatal overdose: a fraction of a raindrop or 3 grains of salt.

Your drugs don't come with an ingredients list.

Although fentanyl is being mixed into almost every kind of drug, you wouldn't be able to see it, or smell it, or taste it.

Fentanyl is one of the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths.

Know the dangers.

Learn the facts about fentanyl and ways to protect yourself at cdc.gov/stopoverdose.

Fentanyl poisoning is the leading cause of death for people aged 18 - 45 in the United States (CDC).

Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine (National Fentanyl Awareness Day).

More than 1,500 under the age of 20 died from fentanyl in 2021, four times as many deaths than 2018 (DEA).

Six out of every 10 pills that contain Fentanyl can lead to potentially lethal dose (DEA).

Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl (CDC).

One overdose death every five minutes (National Fentanyl Awareness Day).

Signs of Overdose:

Slow or shallow breathing
Slow heartbeat
Severe sleepiness
Cold, clammy skin
Trouble walking or talking
Feeling faint, dizzy, or confused
Unresponsiveness

What to do if you think someone is overdosing:

On campus call 972-860-4290.
Off campus call 911.
Administer Naloxone or Narcan, if available.
Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.
Stay with them until emergency workers arrive.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of the Texas Governor.

Two milligrams of fentanyl can kill a person.

Different forms of fentanyl to look out for - blue pills, colorful pills, bag of powder.

Can you tell which pill is real vs. fake?

Synthetic drugs often mix multiple opioids, including fentanyl, to make them more appealing to buyers. There is no way to know what is in synthetic drugs.