To mark the third annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day on May 7, the Region 9 Prevention Resource Center, a program of Permian Basin Regional Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (PBRCADA), is speaking out to help inform communities about the fentanyl crisis in the United States. PBRCADA is joining a coalition of issue area experts, corporations, nonprofits, schools, families, and elected officials who are coming together to raise public awareness of the urgent problem: people are dying at alarming rates due to illicitly manufactured fentanyl.
Led by the national nonprofit Song for Charlie, National Fentanyl Awareness Day uses education as the first step in preventing tragic outcomes. Founded by parents who have lost loved ones to this crisis, National Fentanyl Awareness Day began in 2022 to use education as the first step in preventing tragic outcomes. National Fentanyl Awareness Day provides resources on the facts behind fentanyl and how to get involved, from educating friends and family to knowing the signs of an overdose, to sharing on social media. Members of the coalition include Google, the Ad Council, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Major League Soccer, YouTube, and more.
“Like far too many families, we suffered an unspeakable loss because our son didn’t know the pill he was buying was fake and could be deadly,” Ed Ternan, co-founder of Song for Charlie, said in a news release. “Today, more young Americans understand that danger than they did last year – but millions remain at risk because they don’t understand just how grave the consequences can be of taking a pill purchased from an illegitimate source.”
The PRC is encouraging all citizens of the Permian Basin to know the signs of fentanyl overdose and the methods of proper response. Fentanyl Awareness Day is a chance to raise awareness about the risks of opioid use, educate the public about overdose prevention, and reduce stigma around substance use.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid prescribed for chronic, severe pain and is more potent than morphine or heroin. It is also illicitly manufactured in powder and pill forms. According to the most recent available data, in Texas, from November of 2022 to November of 2023, the CDC Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts show 2,621 deaths from synthetic opioids — mainly fentanyl. Of the 4,931 fatal drug poisonings in Texas in 2022, 2,219 involved illicitly manufactured fentanyl.
The PRC encourages residents of the Permian Basin to speak up and reach out. Hotlines such as Never Use Alone (1-877-696-1996) and 988 are available if you or a loved one needs intervention or support with addiction. Call Outreach, Screening, Assessment and Referral Services (OSAR) at 1-844-420-3964 if you need help finding resources or appropriate care providers.
Signs of an opioid overdose include:
- Slow or no breathing
- Pale, cold or blue skin
- Loss of consciousness
- Choking
Naloxone, a safe and effective medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, is a critical tool in keeping an overdose from becoming fatal. If naloxone is not available, rescue breathing can keep oxygen supplied to vital organs until emergency services arrive. The PRC wants residents in our communities to know how to administer naloxone and perform rescue breathing as part of basic first aid response.
PRC offers training and presentations on how to use naloxone. Additionally, in Texas people can get naloxone at no cost at their local Public Health Office, visiting Naloxone Texas or for purchase at local pharmacies.
Visit the National Fentanyl Awareness Day website to learn about this important health observance.
Find more information about NFAD, fentanyl risks, and safety tips at fentanylawarenessday.org
For more information regarding local efforts and awareness, please contact the Prevention Resource Center at (432) 580-5100 or Jennifer Weston at [email protected]
