|
Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Overdoses from fentanyl are now the NUMBER ONE killer of Americans 18 to 45 years of age and the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Many of these deaths were not individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD). They were our youth experimenting with pills that they thought were legitimate prescription drugs, often purchased off the internet. Our New Jersey State labs report that 70% of these fake pressed pills contain a potentially fatal dose of fentanyl. Our labs also report 97% of cocaine contains fentanyl.
Please speak to your children about this horrible epidemic. A good elevator speech is “If you weren’t prescribed a medication from a doctor, and you didn’t pick it up from a pharmacy, DON’T TAKE IT!” Want to know what a potentially fatal dose of fentanyl is? Have this conversation with your kids when you’re with them at the beach this summer. Pick up 2 to 4 grains of sand and explain that this tiny amount of fentanyl will kill them.
If you want to learn more about this epidemic, Google “One Pill Can Kill”. This site reports that, in 2023, the DEA seized 78 million fentanyl-laced pills and 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. That’s enough powder to manufacture 388 million pills – there are only 340 million Americans! Educate your families on the dangers of experimenting. Take the time with your family and watch this 4 minute film – see link below. You don’t have to have a problem with substance use, all that it takes is one counterfeit pill to take your life.
|
