When Is National Fentanyl Awareness Day and What Is It? Fentanyl Awareness And Prevention Day

What Is The National Fentanyl Awareness Day?

National Fentanyl Awareness Day is a day to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and can cause fatal overdoses and poisonings. Fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, without the user’s knowledge, increasing the risk of death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl was involved in 67% of the 107,375 drug overdose deaths in the United States in the 12 months ending in January 2021.

There are two different dates for National Fentanyl Awareness Day: May 7th and August 21st. May 7th was established by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 2021 to amplify nationwide efforts to inform the public about the threat of fentanyl and how to prevent fentanyl-related deaths. 

August 21st was created by Facing Fentanyl, a grassroots organization of families and advocates who have lost loved ones to fentanyl poisoning, to honor their memory and call for action to end the fentanyl crisis. Both dates aim to educate people about the facts and myths of fentanyl, provide resources and support for those affected by fentanyl, and advocate for policy changes and solutions to reduce the supply and demand of fentanyl.

National Fentanyl Awareness Day is a significant opportunity to spread the word and save lives from this deadly drug. You can join the movement by sharing information on social media using the hashtags #JustKNOW, #FacingFentanylNow, #FentanylAwarenessDay, or #FAD2023. You can also visit the DEA or Facing Fentanyl websites to learn more about how to get involved, access educational materials, find help and support, or become a partner. Together, we can make a difference and stop fentanyl from claiming more lives.

Fentanyl overdose is a severe public health issue that requires evidence-based strategies to prevent and respond to it. Some of the strategies that have been proven to work in the United States are:

• Targeted naloxone distribution: Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of opioids on the brain and restoring breathing. Naloxone can be administered by anyone who witnesses an overdose, such as family members, friends, or bystanders. Targeted naloxone distribution means providing naloxone kits and training to people who are at high risk of overdosing or witnessing an overdose, such as people who use opioids, people who are in treatment or recovery, people who are incarcerated or recently released, and people who work with opioid users.
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT): MAT is a treatment approach that combines medications that reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms with behavioral therapies that address the psychological and social aspects of opioid use disorder. MAT has been shown to improve retention in treatment, reduce illicit opioid use and overdose risk, and improve health and quality of life outcomes for people with opioid use disorder. The most common medications used in MAT are methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
• Academic detailing: Academic detailing is a form of educational outreach that involves trained professionals who visit health care providers in their offices or clinics and provide them with evidence-based information on prescribing practices, pain management, opioid use disorder diagnosis and treatment, naloxone prescribing and dispensing, and referral to specialty care. Academic detailing aims to improve provider knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to opioid prescribing and reduce inappropriate or excessive opioid use.
• Eliminating prior-authorization requirements for medications for opioid use disorder: Prior authorization is a process that requires healthcare providers to obtain approval from insurance companies before prescribing or dispensing certain medications. Prior authorization can create barriers to accessing medications for opioid use disorder, such as delays in treatment initiation, interruptions in medication supply, increased administrative burden, and reduced patient satisfaction. Eliminating prior authorization requirements can increase access to MAT and improve treatment outcomes for people with opioid use disorder.
• Screening for fentanyl in routine clinical toxicology testing: Fentanyl screening is a laboratory test that detects fentanyl or its analogs in biological samples, such as urine or blood. Fentanyl screening can help identify people exposed to fentanyl unknowingly or intentionally and provide them with appropriate interventions, such as harm reduction education, naloxone provision, referral to treatment, or overdose prevention services. Fentanyl screening can also help monitor trends in fentanyl use and inform public health responses.
• 911 Good Samaritan laws: 911 Good Samaritan laws are state laws that provide legal protection from arrest or prosecution for drug possession or paraphernalia charges for people who call 911 or seek medical assistance for themselves or someone else experiencing an overdose. 911 Good Samaritan laws aim to encourage people to call for help in the event of an overdose and reduce the fear of legal consequences that may prevent them from doing so. 911 Good Samaritan laws can save lives by increasing the likelihood of timely overdose reversal and medical care.

Learn More:

• How Does Fentanyl Make You Feel, Does Fentanyl Get You High & How Long Does Fentanyl High Last?
• What is the Fentanyl Half Life & How Long Does Fentanyl Last?
• How Long Does Fentanyl Stay In Urine? Fentanyl Urine Testing
• Why Is Fentanyl So Dangerous? Dangers Of Fentanyl & How Much Fentanyl Is Dangerous?
• How Is Fentanyl Made? Fentanyl Facts
• How Long Does Fentanyl Stay In Your System, Urine, Blood, Salvia & Hair? Fentanyl Drug Test Duration Chart.
• What Does Fentanyl Do To You? Abuse, Side Effects & Treatment
• What is Fentanyl? Rainbow Fentanyl Symptoms, Uses, Side Effects, Overdose & Detox Withdrawal Timeline
• What Does Fentanyl Look Like? Rainbow Fentanyl, Colored Candy Fentanyl, Skittles Fentanyl Images, Facts, Warnings, & FAQs
• Carfentanil Drug

73%

Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, were involved in almost 73% of all opioid-related overdose deaths in 2019.

Source: CDC

57%

Fentanyl seizures by law enforcement in the US increased by 57% from 2019 to 2020, with nearly 17,000 pounds of fentanyl seized in 2020.

Source: DEA

Is There a Fentanyl Awareness Color?

The fentanyl awareness color is not a single color but a range of colors that represent the different forms and dangers of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and can cause fatal overdoses and poisonings.

Fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, without the user’s knowledge, increasing the risk of death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl was involved in 67% of the 107,375 drug overdose deaths in the United States in the 12 months ending in January 2022.

Some of the colors that are used to raise awareness about fentanyl are:

• Blue: Blue is the color of the pills commonly sold as oxycodone, a prescription opioid painkiller, but contain illicit fentanyl. These pills are often labeled as “M30” and have a similar shape and size as oxycodone pills. However, they are much more potent and dangerous than oxycodone and can cause overdose with just one pill. Blue is also the color of the wristbands distributed by the DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign, which aims to educate the public about the risks of fake pills.

Why Is The Fentanyl Awareness Campaign Important?

The Fentanyl Awareness Campaign is essential because fentanyl is a hazardous drug that can cause fatal overdoses and poisonings. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and can be mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, without the user’s knowledge. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl was involved in 67% of the 107,375 drug overdose deaths in the United States in the 12 months ending in January 2022.

The Fentanyl Awareness Campaign aims to educate people about the facts and myths of fentanyl, provide resources and support for those affected by fentanyl, and advocate for policy changes and solutions to reduce the supply and demand of fentanyl. The campaign also seeks to change the stigma and discrimination people who use drugs or have opioid use disorder face. The campaign believes that fentanyl poisoning is not a moral failure but a public health crisis that requires compassion and action.