*We acknowledge that several street names for fentanyl contain disrespectful and degrading language towards groups of people; however, we think it is important to provide real, relevant information to help you have all the information you need to make healthy decisions.

Fentanyl was developed in 1959 as an anesthetic. While it is still used for this purpose, the misuse, and accidental use, of fentanyl has led to a large number of overdose deaths.⁹

Fentanyl binds to the brain’s opioid receptors (2).

Fentanyl causes the brain to increase production of dopamine which causes feelings of euphoria. Over time, the brain craves this excess dopamine rush and searches for it, leading to abuse.

When taken at a high dose, Fentanyl interferes with the body’s ability to regulate breath.

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Colorado fentanyl related overdose death data:

2019: 222
2020: 540
2021: 912+

• The biggest risk with Fentanyl comes from the presence of the drug or analogs (different versions of the drug) in counterfeit opioid pills, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine
• MOST individuals who have died of a fentanyl-related overdose did not know they were ingesting fentanyl
• Fentanyl-related overdoses can also be referred to as: fentanyl-poisoning or accidental overdose
• Fentanyl test strips, which are available at pharmacies, public health agencies and online can be used to detect the presence of fentanyl to prevent accidental overdose, but you need to know how to use them correctly! DANCESAFE has fentanyl testing strips and instructions on proper use.
  • Chocolate Chip Cookie analogy: Because of how these pills are made and pressed, they are not created equal. What this means is that the same ‘batch’ of the drug may yield different pills. Just like the same ‘batch’ of chocolate chip cookie dough may yield different cookies (i.e. one cookie may only have 3 chocolate chips while another cookie from the same batch may have 8). Some pills from the same ‘batch’ of a contaminated substance may have a lethal dose while other pills do not.

Who’s Using? Percentage

42% of pills tested for fentanyl contained at least 2 mg of fentanyl, considered to be a lethal dose. Many counterfeit or contaminated pills confiscated by law enforcement agencies have been found to contain up to 5mg of fentanyl - more than twice the lethal dose. It's difficult to know who's illicitly using due to the fact that most fentanyl consumption occurs through contamination, meaning many are unaware of its presence until after the point of overdose.

Did you know

• Experts consider 2mg to be a lethal dose (image to the left shows scale of 2mg).
• According to the CDC, fentanyl in now the #1 killer of people age 18-25
• There has been a 354% increase in the prevalence of fentanyl in recent years

Naloxone (aka) Narcan

Overdose reversal drug
Naloxone = the name of the drug
Narcan = the brand name of the drug

Narcan:
legal to carry and used to reverse an opioid-related overdose

• is an atomizer (nasal spray)
• temporarily blocks opiate receptors in the body and works on all opioids (heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone)
• naloxone is safe to use, even if you are not sure what drugs the person took
• naloxone cannot harm an individual even if they have not ingested an opioid

S.A.V.E M.E.

STIMULATE

• Shout their name, rub your knuckles on their sternum, pinch or jostle them.
• If no response, proceed with getting support and start rescue breathing.
• It is important to call 911*. Report someone is not breathing, non-responsive.

AIRWAY

• Put the person on their back. Tilt their head back to open their airway.
• Clear blockages in the mouth or throat before providing rescue breaths.

VENTILATE

• Seal your mouth over their mouth and pinch their nose to shut.
• Give a steady, regular strength breath. If the chest rises, oxygen is getting to the lungs.
• If the chest doesn’t rise, check for blockages, reposition the head and try again.
• Give breaths every 5 seconds until they breath on their own or help arrives.

EVALUATE

• Are they conscious? Are they breathing? Do they need Naloxone?⁶

Fentanyl is illegal to possess (without a doctor’s prescription) or sell in most of Europe and Canada.

Colorado recently passed a bill in 2022 (HB22-1326), which now makes the unlawful possession of any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that weighs more than 4 grams and contains any amount of fentanyl (or another analog) a level 4 drug felony⁷

* Colorado is a Good Samaritan Law state which protects the individual who calls 911 during an emergency overdose involving drugs and/or alcohol from criminal prosecution. The same protection applies to individuals who remain at the scene until law enforcement and/or emergency medical responders arrive; this immunity also extends to the individual who suffered the emergency drug or alcohol event.