A silent killer is lurking all around us no matter where we turn. Substance abuse – primarily illicit fentanyl – is ravaging our communities from coast to coast, leaving families forever mourning the loss of a loved one.  To contribute to National Fentanyl Awareness Day (May 7), Ms. Lange invited Outreach Specialists to her classes to educate Sahuaro students, joining the many voices dedicated to educating the public on the serious dangers of fentanyl poisoning from fake pills and other illicit drugs. On Monday, May 6, Karen McGarrity and Patti Schuler with the Community Prevention Coalition (or the CPC) educated Ms. Lange’s classes about the crisis.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid, similar to morphine, but 50 to 100 times more potent. There are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicit fentanyl.  Illicit fentanyl is purposely and deceptively added to other drugs because of its extreme potency, making drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous.  Students were given a survey to assess their prior knowledge before watching a short documentary, Dead on Arrival, which highlights young kids, high schoolers, and young adults who died from an illicit fentanyl overdose, leaving their families with a horrible final memory of them that they will never forget. A news clip from Dead on Arrival startled students: “In Arizona, in one year, enough Fentanyl was confiscated to kill 70 million people.”  Over 300,000 Americans have died of drug overdose and fentanyl poisoning in just a few years, from 2020 to the present. Children under 14 are dying of illicit fentanyl poisoning faster than any other age group, and it is the number one killer of adults 18-45. The DEA reports that at least 7 in 10 counterfeit pills are deadly. The majority of kids or young adults who die from fentanyl don’t know that they are taking illicit fentanyl; most are experimenting and fake pills are made to look identical to legitimate prescription pills – such as Oxycontin®, Percocet®, Vicodin®, Adderall®, Xanax®,  and other medicines-and have been found in every state in the country.  Karen McGarrity said, “In Tucson,  youth overdoses  caused by illicit fentanyl have risen to 67%.” After watching the video one can only imagine how much worse this will get in the future.

Patti Schuler said, “China is a primary source of precursor chemicals used by the cartels in Mexico to manufacture the powerful street opioid.” So the amount of Fentanyl production will only increase because it brings in the money and the power for those who sell it.

Fentanyl-related deaths have reached an all-time high for underage and young adults. If you happen upon someone who you suspect has overdosed, call the paramedics immediately and then check to see if they are responsive. If it is available, carry and use Narcan (naloxone) – a lifesaving medication used to help someone who is overdosing. Classes watched another video on how to use it and the steps to take when someone is overdosing. It is sold at pharmacies without a prescription, available in most Pima County libraries, or available for free at community distribution sites across Arizona. The spread of fentanyl needs to stop, and it starts with us.