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One Pill Can Kill


U.S. Map with lines and people icons

 

 

DEA Reveals Criminal Drug Networks Are Flooding the U.S. with Deadly Fentanyl


Facts About Counterfeit Pills

  •  Criminal drug networks are mass-producing fake pills and falsely marketing them as legitimate prescription pills to deceive the American public.
  • Counterfeit pills are easy to purchase, widely available, often contain fentanyl or methamphetamine, and can be deadly.
  • Fake prescription pills are easily accessible and often sold on social media and e-commerce platforms, making them available to anyone with a smartphone, including minors.
  •  Many counterfeit pills are made to look like prescription opioids such as oxycodone (Oxycontin®, Percocet®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), and alprazolam (Xanax®); or stimulants like amphetamines (Adderall®).

Download Drug Factsheet

4 out of every 10 pills - image

Legit or Counterfeit

Authentic Oxycodone

Synthetic opioid drug prescribed for pain as OxyContin®, Tylox®, and Percodan®. These drugs are derived from one species of the poppy plant, and have a high potential for abuse.

Authentic oxycodone Front

Authentic Oxycodone Front

Back of Authentic Oxycodone

Authentic Oxycodone Back

Authentic Oxycodone

Authentic Oxycodone
Side by Side

Counterfeit

Street Names: 30s; 40s; 512s; Beans; Blues; Buttons; Cotton; Greens; Hillbilly Heroin; Kickers; Killers; Muchachas; Mujeres; OC; Oxy; Oxy 80s; Roxy; Roxy Shorts; Whites

front of 30mg counterfeit oxy with Fentanyl
Click to download the full image

Counterfeit Oxycodone Front

30mg counterfeit oxy with Fentanyl
Click to download the full image

Counterfeit Oxycodone Back

30mg counterfeit oxy
Click to download the full image

Counterfeit Oxycodone
Side by Side

Authentic Alprazolam

Depressants that produce sedation, induce sleep, relieve anxiety and prevent seizures. Available in prescription pills, syrup and injectable preparation. Prescribed as Valium®, Xanax®, Restoril®, Ativan®, Klonopin®

Front of Authentic Xanax
Click to download the full image

Authentic Xanax® Back

Back of Authentic Xanax
Click to download the full image

Authentic Xanax® Front

Authentic_Xanax
Click to download the full image

Authentic Xanax®
Side by Side

Counterfeit

Street Names: Bars; Benzos; Bicycle Handle Bars; Bicycle Parts; Bricks; Footballs; Handlebars; Hulk; Ladders; Planks; School Bus; Sticks; Xanies; Yellow Boys; Zanbars; Zannies; Z-Bars

Front Counterfeit Xanax
Click to download the full image

Counterfeit Xanax® Front

Xanax_Counterfeit_back
Click to download the full image

Counterfeit Xanax® Back

Counterfeit Xanax
Click to download the full image

Counterfeit Xanax®
Side by Side

Authentic Amphetamine

Prescription stimulants used to treat Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Used as a study aid, to stay awake, and to suppress appetites. Prescribed as Adderall®, Concerta®, Dexedrine®, Focalin®, Metadate®, Methylin®, Ritalin®.

Authentic Adderall image
Click to download the full image

Authentic Adderall® Front 

Authentic Adderall Back
Click to download the full image

Authentic Adderall® Back

Authentic Adderall front and back - side by side
Click to download the full image

Authentic Adderall®
Side by Side

Counterfeit

Street Names: A-Train; Abby; Addy; Amps; Christmas Trees; Co-Pilots; Lid Poppers; Smart Pills; Smarties; Study Buddies; Study Skittles; Truck Drivers; Zing

Counterfeit Adderall image Front
Click to download the full image

Counterfeit Adderall® Front

Counterfeit Adderall Back
Click to download the full image

Counterfeit Adderall® Back

Counterfeit Adderall side by side
Click to download the full image

Counterfeit Adderall®
Side by Side

The images of legitimate and counterfeit pills are examples and do not represent the many variations of counterfeit pills.  Never trust your own eyes to determine if a pill is legitimate. The only safe medications are ones prescribed by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.

  • How Teens Misuse Medicine
  • Drug Overdoses Killed a Record Number of Americans
  • Buying Drugs Online – What You Should Know & How to Protect Your Kids
  • 10 Strategies to Prevent Your Young Person from Using Drugs
  • Severe Opioid Overdoses Rose by Nearly a Third During Pandemic
  • Growing Up Drug Free - a Parent's Guide to Prevention

 

 

 

DEA Resources:

  • 2020 National Drug Threat Assessment
  • Drugs of Abuse
  • DEA Fentanyl Drug Factsheet
  • Fentanyl: The Next Wave of the Opioid Crisis
  • Fentanyl Flow to the United States
  • Fentanyl-Laced Crack Cocaine a Deadly New Threat
  • Drug Education and Prevention
  • DEA Fentanyl Related Press Releases
  • Operation Prevention
  • DEA’s "One Pill Can Kill" Flickr album: fake pill and drug photos
  • www.JustThinkTwice.com (for teens)
  • www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com (for parents, caregivers, and teachers)
  • www.CampusDrugPrevention.gov (for teachers and college campus community leaders/advisors)

CDC Resources:

  • Counterfeit Medicine
  • Notes from the Field - Counterfeit Percocet
  • Opioid Overdose
  • Opioid Basics
  • Drug Overdose Deaths
  • Increase in Fatal Drug Overdoses Across the United States Driven by Synthetic Opioids Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths — United States
  • Synthetic Opioid Overdose Data

Food and Drug Administration

  • Counterfeit Medicine

Department of Health and Human Services

  • What are Opioids
  • National Opioid Crisis
  • Drug overdose deaths in 2020 were horrifying
  • A Patients Guide to Fentanyl - National Library of Medicine

National Institute on Drug Abuse Resources

  • Addressing America's Fentanyl Crisis
  • Fentanyl - Drug Topics
  • The True Deadly Scope of America's Fentanyl Problem

If you or someone you know has a mental health condition or a substance use disorder, there are resources and services available to assist with screening, treatment, and recovery:

SAMHSA's National Helpline

1-800-662-HELP (4357)
TTY: 1-800-487-4889

Website: 
www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
www.https://www.findtreatment.gov

Also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service, this Helpline provides 24-hour free and confidential treatment referral and information about mental health and substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery, in English and Spanish.

Drug-Free Workplace

1-800-WORKPLACE (967-5752)
Website: www.samhsa.gov/workplace/resources/drug-free-helpline

Assists employers and union representatives with policy development, drug testing, employee assistance, employee education, supervisor training, and program implementation.

Naloxone

Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist. This means that it attaches to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioids. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose.

  • Naloxone Drug Facts | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
  • Opioid Overdose Toolkit | SAMHSA
  • Naloxone for Opioid Overdose: Life-Saving Science | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
  • Is naloxone accessible? | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
  • The Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative | NIH HEAL Initiative
  • Medications to Treat Opioid Disorder | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Buprenorphine Practitioner & Treatment Program Locator

Find information on locating practitioners and treatment programs authorized to treat addiction and dependence on opioids, such as heroin or prescription pain relievers, at SAMSHA.gov.

Opioid Treatment Program Directory

Find treatment programs in your state that treat addiction and dependence on opioids, such as heroin or prescription pain relievers at Opioid Treatment Program Directory.

Learn More

Find out more about these treatment topics:

  • SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator: Confidential and anonymous source for individuals seeking treatment facilities for substance use disorder, addiction, and mental health concerns.
  • Find a Health Center: Some health centers provide mental health and substance use disorder services. Contact the health center directly to confirm availability of specific services and to make an appointment.
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  • Behavioral Health Treatment and Services
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