Tuesday, April 29th marks the 4th annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day. This is a day of reflection and remembrance of those loved ones lost to the drug overdose crisis, as well as a day of action and education.
In recent months, the CDC has reported nearly a 24% decline in U.S. drug overdose deaths. Recent data indicates a decline in overdose-related deaths, dropping from 114,000 in October 2023 to 87,000 in September 2024. The decrease of 27,000 in overdose-related mortality means that, according to Dr. Allison Arwady, Director of the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention, “more than 70 lives are saved each day.”
This decline shows progress; however, the US Department of Health and Human Services has recently renewed an emergency declaration to continue responding to this national crisis. Fentanyl still contributes to a significant number of overdose deaths per year, and it is lethal in small doses (approximately two milligrams).
Quick Fentanyl Facts:
- A schedule II controlled substance similar to morphine but 100 times more potent
- Illicit fentanyl is primarily manufactured in foreign labs
- Due to its strength and low cost, it is commonly mixed with other illicit drugs to increase the potency
The goals of Fentanyl Awareness Day
- Raise Awareness about the dangers of fentanyl
- Honor the lives lost to overdose caused by fentanyl
- Inform the public about life-saving prevention efforts
- Prevent and reduce fentanyl involved overdoses
Reversing an Overdose
Naloxone is a safe medication that can reverse an overdose from an opioid such as fentanyl or heroin and other prescription opioid medications. The medication comes in two forms: a nasal spray and an injectable. Naloxone works by blocking an opioid’s effects on the brain. The medication has the ability to restore breathing within 2-3 minutes in a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped as a result of an overdose. The administration of Naloxone will not harm someone if they are overdosing on drugs other than opioids.
Toolkits
A Song for Charlie has released the National Fentanyl Awareness Day toolkit, which offers a way for everyone to get involved in fentanyl awareness outreach. With audience-specific samples and templates, this tool encourages action by spreading the word to increase awareness of the dangers of fentanyl.
The CDC has also released a toolkit that highlights efforts to address overdoses. The toolkit offers informational material on how to reverse an overdose by administering naloxone. Additionally, in their toolkit, they include the Stop Overdose campaign, which offers shareable educational resources designed to teach the public about fentanyl overdoses and how to prevent them. Finally, they highlight the Overdose Data to Action program, which strengthens overdose surveillance. The program works to support local jurisdictions in implementing prevention activities and in collecting comprehensive real-time data.
The National Governors Association supports states with best practices to prevent overdose by regularly convening the Opioid State Action Network. This network brings together governors’ health policy advisors to discuss issues related to the national opioid crisis and recent national overdose trends, as well as best practices in harm reduction and overdose response.
