DEA Recognizes National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day
One Nation. One Fight. Facing Fentanyl. Together.
OMAHA, Neb. – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is joining Facing Fentanyl, to unite families, communities and organizations across the country in recognizing National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, Friday, August 21. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the national observance which honors and remembers the lives lost to fentanyl poisoning.
This year’s theme, “Power of the Parent,” recognizes the critical role parents and families play in shaping conversations, raising awareness and helping protect loved ones. Their voices make a meaningful impact: One Nation. One Fight. Facing Fentanyl. Together.
This day serves as a nationwide call to action to increase awareness to the highly addictive and dangerous drugs containing fentanyl that continue to drive the opioid epidemic and take lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 760 lives were lost to synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, across the five-state DEA Omaha Field Division.
“Fentanyl is indiscriminate,” DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie said. “It doesn’t see color or age, income or social status. It touches all walks of life. Because of this, it is imperative that every single one of us makes an effort to talk with our family and friends about the deadliness of this drug. Take 10 minutes out of your day to educate yourself and then educate those around you. Your conversation may save a life.”
Fentanyl-related deaths have declined over the past several years, yet fentanyl remains the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18-45 years old. Last year, DEA intensified its fight against the deadly threat of synthetic opioids with the launch of its Fentanyl Free America initiative.
DEA urges the public to remain cognizant of the extreme threat of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.
For more information about fentanyl and how you can join the fight, visit 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 hashtag #FentanylAwarenessDay.
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