Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is used in medical settings to treat severe pain, but illegally manufactured fentanyl is often mixed with or passed off as other drugs because it is cheap, potent and addictive. A relatively small amount of fentanyl can interrupt the communication between the brain and the lungs, stopping breathing and leading to overdose.

Because fentanyl is a cheaper drug, it is mixed with more expensive drugs for higher profits for dealers. Fentanyl is most often found in copycat pills, but lately has been making its way into other drugs including cocaine, methamphetamines, and heroin, in forms such as powders, sprays and pills. Because users often don’t know that fentanyl is present in their drug supply, there is a high risk of fatal overdose when using illicit drugs.

There is no way to know for sure if fentanyl is present in a drug supply. Fentanyl Testing Strips, when used correctly, can often detect fentanyl, but these strips are not 100% accurate and do not indicate that there is no risk.  Signs of an overdose include: Extreme sleepiness or unconsciousness, blue or purple lips and fingertips, pinpoint pupils, choking or gurgling sounds. Administering naloxone can reverse overdose. For more information on Marin County’s local initiative for drug safety and how to get naloxone, check out OD Free Marin online at odfreemarin.org