Today, we’re proud to recognize the first-ever National Fentanyl Awareness Day, a day of action to raise public awareness about an urgent problem: people dying at alarming rates due to illegally made fentanyl (FEN-ta-nyl), a dangerous synthetic opioid. Founded by parents who have lost loved ones to this crisis, National Fentanyl Awareness Day is supported by a coalition of experts, companies, and partners who are coming together today to amplify this critical issue. The safety and well-being of our community are always of utmost importance, which is why we're has joined this coalition to help spread the word. 

1. Know the Facts - Below are six key facts about the national fentanyl crisis:

• Fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, and all other accidents.
• Illegally made fentanyl is the primary driver of the recent increase in all U.S. overdose deaths.
• 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.
• Fake pills have been found in all 50 states. Assume any prescription med you see online is fake, including Oxy, Percocet, and Xanax.
• Practically all of the pills seized by law enforcement are fake, and 60% contain a potentially lethal amount of fentanyl.
• Fentanyl is involved in more American youth drug deaths than heroin, meth, cocaine, benzos, and Rx drugs COMBINED. Fentanyl-involved deaths are fastest growing among 14- to 23-year-olds.

2. Help Spread the Word

• We encourage you to talk about this issue with your friends and family. More information and resources can be found at fentanylawarenessday.org.
• Please consider re-sharing content from the activation day’s Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn accounts today and using the hashtag #NationalFentanylAwarenessDay.