DEA Washington Division Encourages Back to School Drug Awareness and Education
As the school year starts, the DEA encourages raising awareness and educating family and friends about drug use
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As students return to school across the DMV, the DEA's Washington Division urges families to have open conversations about the dangers of drug experimentation and use.
“Our citizens, especially our youth, are being exposed to an illicit drug supply that is more dangerous than ever before, making it essential for parents, caregivers, students, and educators to understand the dangers of substance use and take measures to stay safe. Never underestimate the impact that one conversation can have,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Washington Division.
In 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized more than 58 million fake pills containing fentanyl and more than 13,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. This amount represents approximately 387.6 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl.
Locally, the Washington Division seized over 8.3 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl in 2022. The division, which covers the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia confiscated nearly 160,000 fake pills containing fentanyl and more than 250 pounds of fentanyl powder throughout the year. So far in 2023, there has been a threefold increase in seizures of drugs containing fentanyl in the area. Forget mentioned, “these numbers are alarming and emphasize the importance of having conversations with our loved ones about this lethal threat [fentanyl poisonings] that doesn’t discriminate by age, gender or location and affects us all, including kids in school.”
According to the CDC, a leading cause of death for Americans ages 18-45 is drug poisoning. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially lethal dose and six out of 10 pills tested at DEA laboratories contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
Fentanyl comes in every shape and color and oftentimes is made to look like legitimate prescription medications including Oxycodone, Xanax and Adderall.
For more information on fentanyl and other drugs, or for guidance on how to start a conversation with friends and family on the dangers of drug use, please visit www.dea.gov/onepill, www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov, or www.JustThinkTwice.gov.
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