United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SEATTLE – For a fifth straight year, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will show its support for “Song for Charlie” and our many valued partners in law enforcement, public health, and non-profit agencies in recognizing National Fentanyl Awareness Day on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.   

Six months ago, DEA intensified its fight against the deadly threat of synthetic opioids with the launch of its Fentanyl Free America initiative. Fentanyl-related deaths have decreased in the past several years, yet fentanyl remains the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18-45 years old.   

“We will never forget the lives lost and the families forever changed by this devastating crisis,” said Administrator Terrance Cole. “National Fentanyl Awareness Day serves as a reminder of the urgent need to come together, educate our communities, and intensify our fight against fentanyl - a weapon of mass destruction that continues to kill Americans every day - as we work to achieve a Fentanyl Free America.” 

“Here in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve seen firsthand how fentanyl devastates families and communities,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Through DEA’s Fentanyl Free America, we are aggressively targeting the criminal networks driving this crisis while expanding education, prevention, and partnerships that save lives. This fight requires all of us. Together, we can reduce the harm, prevent further tragedy, and move closer to a future where fentanyl no longer threatens our communities.”

DEA urges the public to remain cognizant of the extreme threat of fentanyl in our communities: 

• Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.  
• Just two milligrams, the equivalent of a few grains of salt, is a potentially lethal dose. 
• The Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG, both designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations in 2025, are pressing fentanyl into counterfeit pills that look like prescription medications – such as oxycodone, Xanax, and Percocet – as well as mixing fentanyl powder with cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.  
• Many of the people poisoned by fentanyl had no idea they were even taking it. 
• The only safe medications are ones that come from licensed and accredited medical professionals. 

The Faces of Fentanyl memorial exhibit opened in 2022 at DEA Headquarters to commemorate the lives lost from fentanyl poisonings and overdoses. The memorial exhibit is a representation of the faces of America to include all ages, all races, and all backgrounds, who have been lost to the synthetic opioid crisis. The Faces of Fentanyl memorial exhibit currently displays more than 7,000 photos. Last year, the exhibit was enhanced by the addition of a new, interactive online exhibit, which is accessible to everyone at dea.gov/facesoffentanyl. If you are interested in submitting a photo of your loved one to be included in the Faces of Fentanyl memorial exhibit visit www.DEA.gov/facesoffentanyl. 

For more information about fentanyl, visit Fentanyl Awareness | DEA.gov, Fentanyl Free America | DEA.gov, and One Pill Can Kill. DEA resources are all available for public use.  

Help spread awareness about the dangers of fentanyl by posting a photo on social media using the hashtags #NationalFentanylAwarenessDay and #JustKnow.