DEA found 7 out of 10 prescription pills bought on the street contained a lethal dose of fentanyl.
We estimate that over 200 people in Charlotte will die this year due to a fatal fentanyl overdose.
In Charlotte, overdose deaths are up 20% in 2023.
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of counterfeit prescription pills that are being laced with fentanyl.
It’s time to start the conversation.
#street-pills-kill
fentanyl 101
What is Fentanyl?
A fatal dose of fentanyl is small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil.
source: DEA
Prescription pills purchased on the streets or online are often fakes made with fentanyl.
Laboratory testing indicates 7 out of every 10 pills seized by DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.
source: CMPD
DEA has seized a record 62 million fentanyl pills to date in 2023, which already exceeds last year’s totals of 58 million pills.
source: CMPD
Fentanyl overdoses happen fast.
Because fentanyl is so strong, an overdose can happen within moments of ingestion.
source: Patrick Semansky / Associated Press
Naloxone (Narcan) is a medication that
can reverse an opioid overdose.
Administering it right away can save a life.
Learn how to use naloxone:
source: CDC
TALK to your
kids
A local mom shares her story of how she lost her son to fentanyl, after taking a pill.
SIGNS of A
fentanyl overdose...
source: DEA
This photo depicts a lethal amount of fentanyl.
if you witness A fentanyl
overdose...
drop box locations
The best way to dispose of unused medication – prescription or pills purchased on the street – is to drop off the medicine at a drug take back site, location, or program immediately.
Find an authorized drug collection site near you or call the DEA Diversion Control Division Registration Call Center at 1-800-882-9539 for more information about these collection sites.
You can also go to Google Maps and type in "drug disposal near me" or "medication disposal near me" to find your nearest drug disposal site.
Click on the map below to find the closest drop box closest to you.
resources