Listen to Angie Hatch, a Prevention Specialist at the Bear River Health Department, talk about the National Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) “One Pill Can Kill” Alert and Awareness Campaign.
What is the “One Pill Can Kill” Campaign?
- The DEA created this campaign to help raise public awareness about the alarming increase in fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.
- The DEA hopes to educate the public of the dangers of counterfeit pills and urge all Americans to take only medications prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.
Why is the “One Pill Can Kill” campaign important?
- As of today almost 38 million pills and nearly 6000 lbs of powder have been seized.
- Fentanyl is being mixed with other drugs, as illegal distributors make the pills, the fentanyl is oftentimes dispersed unevenly and some or all of the pills will have a deadly dose.
- Laboratory testing indicates 7 out of every 10 pills seized by the DEA contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
- The DEA acknowledges that people are able to buy pills online but if they don’t come from a reputable pharmacy they may not be getting exactly what they are ordering or expecting. Many illicit drug manufacturers are adding fentanyl to make what they are shipping more potent and addictive. Because they are working illegally, there are no requirements or standards to disclose what is in the pills they are shipping.
What can you do?
- Become educated about counterfeit pills.
- Visit reputable websites, click on the links below:
- Learn about Naloxone and how it can save a life.
- Click on the link below to learn more