Experimenting with pills has never been deadlier because the drug supply has never been deadlier. James Fishback, founder of NEO: The New Drug Talk, explains what you need to know.
In the ugly history of illicit drugs, no drug is more deadly than fentanyl.
Not cocaine.
Not meth.
Not heroin.
Every day, fentanyl kills over 200 Americans; rich, poor, black, white, old, young. Especially young.
Fentanyl is a cheap synthetic opioid that is incredibly dangerous for two reasons:
It’s FIFTY TIMES stronger than heroin. Just a sugar packet’s worth of fentanyl would kill over 500 people.
Fentanyl is used to create counterfeit versions of popular prescription drugs. These fake pills look identical to the real ones—Xanax, Adderall, Oxycontin, Percocet, and others. You can’t see, smell, or taste the difference. Even agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA, can’t tell the difference between the real pill and the counterfeit one.
Fentanyl isn’t just deadly poison. It’s deadly poison in disguise, and most kids who die from it had no idea they were even taking it.
Durham has installed two Narcan vending machines as part of a broader effort to make treatment for drug overdoses more accessible.
Two Narcan vending machines are now available to the public in Durham at:
Durham County Department of Public Health, 414 E. Main St.
Durham County Detention Center, 219 S. Mangum St.
Federal health leaders visited Durham on Wednesday to discuss the importance of making Naloxone, an over-the-counter drug sold under the name Narcan, more readily available. Among the visitors were Dr. Rahul Gupta, who oversees the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Narcan is a lifesaving drug that can help reverse overdoses. During Wednesday’s visit to the detention center, Gupta said free access to the treatment is a game changer.
“Every time this happens, it’s a leading effort for the country as an example for the nation, for the state to do that.,” Gupta said. “Are there enough across the country? No. This why I’m here today … to exemplify the leading efforts right here in Durham County.”
Gupta said overdoses in North Carolina have declined in recent years, citing a 14% decrease in overdoses in the state compared to a 5% national decrease.
The vending machine at the detention center will be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while the vending machine at the Department of Public Health will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
People at risk for opioid overdose, including those struggling with opioid use disorder or taking high doses of opioid medications, are recommended to carry Narcan.
Durham County Department of Public Health, 414 E. Main St.
Join Jeremy Kelsay, the founder of “Every 11 Minutes,” as he appears on Dr. Phil Primetime’s Morning on Merritt Street to address the growing fentanyl crisis. Discover shocking new statistics revealing a death every 5 minutes due to this crisis. Dive into conversations about innovative harm reduction strategies to tackle opioid addiction and find sustainable solutions. Tune in for crucial insights and discussions on combating this urgent issue.
This video explains the De Minimis Bill which is aimed to close a loophole which is allowing Fentanyl to enter the United States clothing and other items purchased overseas.
Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools votes unanimously
WINSTON-SALEM — Numbers from Forsyth County show that 22 minors have overdosed within the first three months of this year. The average age of those children is 11 years old.
Annie Vasquez with Forsyth Regional Opioid & Substance Use Team thinks that adding the life-saving drug to schools makes the biggest of difference.
“So I feel better that somebody at each of my kids’ school will know how to use Narcan, and will have it available to them,” said Vasquez.
Vasquez is an opioid survivor herself and says that this policy gives peace of mind for her own children.
“My personal story of making it out alive, I hope, will both inspire other folks that they can do it, or their family member can do it. But I also am here to advocate for all of those people that do use drugs now, that there is hope out there,” said Vasquez.
Andrea Scales lost her son Jeremiah Scales to fentanyl overdose and speaks about how this policy resonates.
I lost my son to unknowingly ingesting fentanyl, and this happened June 3rd of 2022. This coming Monday will be two years since his passing. Jeremiah was my only child and it makes me feel so good to be able to be apart of the change. This will change a life,” said Scales.
The school board passed the policy unanimously, with the end goal to carry Narcan in all of their schools.
The drug can save the life of someone who has overdosed on opioids.
School leaders said it’s better to be safe than sorry.
“We just hope that we hopefully will never have to use it. But in the event that we needed to use it, then hopefully we would be able to save a life,” said WS/FCS Director of School Nurses Katie Key.
ABSS is in a similar process. The district said it’s researching Narcan dispensers.
This plan is in the early stages; no timeline has yet been determined.
Pill presses are poorly-regulated machines that are an essential tool for drug counterfeiters. Watch DEA’s Pill Press Push and find out why we’re thrilled with the DEA’s new pill press website. Learn more in this video, and keep up with drug safety news at safemedicines.org
CARY, N.C. (WTVD) — On Tuesday, Wake County school officials took another step toward putting potentially life-saving medicine into public schools — countywide.
Wake County School Board members approved a new policy Tuesday that would require all schools in the county to keep a supply of Naloxone — also known by its brand name Narcan — and train faculty members on how to use it. Families who have been touched by the fentanyl epidemic say that’s a big win.
“The more we say fentanyl out loud without shame, the more people understand that anybody could die,” said Barb Walsh, a Cary mom and founder of the Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina.
Someone’s going to die because Naloxone wasn’t in school. And is that a risk they want to take?
Barb Walsh, founder of Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina
Barb’s daughter, Sophia, died in August 2021 after drinking from a water bottle that had the dangerous opioid mixed into it. Since then, Barb’s made it her mission to not only support families like hers but also promote life-saving medicine however she can. She founded the Fentanyl Victims Network in August 2022, one year after Sophia died.
“I have a fire extinguisher in my kitchen just in case I have a fire, that’s because I want one,” she said. “Naloxone is the same thing.”
In December, Barb attended a Wake County school board meeting, urging officials to consider requiring Naloxone be put into schools. Now, that’s one step closer to becoming reality, after a new policy was approved — and just needs to be voted on to become official.
“We don’t know where the threat is going to come from. But if we have a tool that can save a life, particularly one of our students’ lives, we want to do everything we can to take those steps,” said board chair Chris Heagarty.
According to state health statistics, Naloxone was used for suspected overdoses 21 times on school grounds statewide last year. Walsh said it’s not worth waiting for more.
“It may not have happened in North Carolina yet. But someone’s going to die because Naloxone wasn’t in school. And is that a risk they want to take?” she said.
Though there’s work to be done — only about 20% of North Carolina’s public school districts have Naloxone policies — the significance of Tuesday’s decision isn’t lost on Walsh.
“It doesn’t take an army. It doesn’t take a lobbyist. It takes a mom who’s lost a child to stand in front of the school board to make this happen. And that’s significant,” she said.
Funding for the new policy is not yet clear. Heagarty said they’ll be targeting possible state and federal funds in addition to county funding out of the superintendent’s budget. The policy will be discussed at a full board meeting in May, and if passed could be in place by next school year.
