Overdose Prevention and Response

Black market fentanyl is often illegally manufactured outside the U.S. and smuggled into the country. Illegal manufacturing of fentanyl is far from an exact science because there is no official oversight or quality control — and since fentanyl is so powerful, even a small mistake can be deadly. Even from the same batch, some pills might be lethal while others aren’t. So, they’re all dangerous.

Fentanyl is very powerful and it’s impossible to tell if it’s been laced into your pills. So, you might think you’re getting a real prescription pill like Oxycodone, Xanax, Adderall, Percocet or another drug, but you’re not. It’s a look-alike, and just a tiny amount of fentanyl (equal to 10 grains of salt) mixed with a drug can cause an overdose or kill you in under two minutes.

More often than not kids use social media to contact their friends or dealers online to arrange to buy painkillers like oxycodone, Xanax, Adderall, Percocet or other drugs, often for as little as $3 per pill, and unknowingly get look-alike pills laced with fentanyl instead.

Anyone who is looking for prescription pills or other drugs at school, online or on the street is at risk of accidentally overdosing on fentanyl. That’s why it’s so important to only take pills prescribed to you by your doctor and picked up from your pharmacy. Everything else is taking a chance with your life. It only takes one time and a very tiny amount to overdose and die from fentanyl use.

Unprescribed fentanyl is a street drug that most commonly comes in a blue pill with an M30 marking, but can come in many other colors and forms as well. And it’s disguised to look just like other prescription pills such as Oxycodone, Xanax, Adderall, or Percocet or other drugs. It can also be crushed and snorted or even put into marijuana and smoked. Don’t be fooled. Fentanyl can be mixed with almost any drug, and you won’t know it until it’s too late.

The symptoms of ingestion start almost immediately. First, users might get a feeling of euphoria, but within seconds they’ll become lethargic or tired. Breathing and heart rates slow down. Skin becomes cold and sweaty. Pupils become constricted (smaller). When an overdose is occurring, breathing becomes shallower and eventually, will stop — sometimes in under two minutes. That is why having naloxone available and knowing how to use it is a must. If you suspect someone is suffering an overdose, call 911 for help immediately.

What makes fentanyl so dangerous is that it’s impossible to see. There are test strips that can help you determine whether a pill contains fentanyl, but they are currently not legal or available in Texas by state law. Usually, illegal drug manufacturers will lace fentanyl into pills that look like oxycodone, Xanax, Adderall, Percocet or other drugs. But that’s not the only case, and it can come in powder or liquid forms as well.

When you buy drugs at school, online, or on the street and not from a pharmacy, they are often manufactured in poorly maintained, unregulated and illegal labs by untrained and unqualified people. Because it only takes a tiny amount of fentanyl to kill you, even a small mistake by these illegal drug manufacturers can be deadly. Even with pills from the same batch, some might be lethal while others aren’t, making them all dangerous.

Yes, if it’s obtained without a prescription and bought from a friend or dealer at school or online or on the street, it’s illegal to possess and take. If fentanyl was prescribed to you by a doctor for legitimate medical reasons, it’s OK to obtain it and is legal to use as long as you follow the instructions carefully and get it from your pharmacy.

Talk to them. Tell them about the dangers and use the resources in this toolkit to help you have the critical conversation. We can also connect you to professional care and treatment by calling 988 or visiting findhelpdc.com.