Fentanyl and the Opioid Epidemic

Fentanyl: A Growing Epidemic

• Fentanyl is a major threat to health in Fresno County, surpassing COVID-19 as the biggest health concern (Mark Glasher, osteopathic physician)
• The Fresno Needle Exchange program exchanges approximately 30,000 needles every two hours, highlighting the severity of the opioid problem (Mark Glasher)

The Rise of Fentanyl

• Fentanyl is an opioid medication commonly used in hospitals to control pain, but it is now being manufactured illegally in labs (Patil Armenian, associate professor of clinical emergency medicine)
• Fentanyl is 50-100 times more potent than morphine, making it extremely dangerous when used recreationally (Patil Armenian)
• Fentanyl is often mixed with other substances, such as heroin, or sold as counterfeit pills (e.g., oxycodone, Percocet) (Patil Armenian)

Law Enforcement and Fentanyl

• Fentanyl is a major challenge for law enforcement, with no boundaries in terms of demographics or socioeconomic status (law enforcement official)
• Fentanyl is often imported from China or Mexico, with large quantities entering the US through the southern border (law enforcement official)
• The drug is often sold online, with buyers unaware of the risks or potency of the substance (law enforcement official)

The Impact on Youth

• Young people, often aged 18-35, are particularly vulnerable to fentanyl, with many cases involving high school students (law enforcement official)
• Fentanyl is often ordered online, with delivery to homes, making it easily accessible to youth (law enforcement official)
• Parents are often unaware of their children's involvement with fentanyl, highlighting the need for greater awareness and education (concerned parent)

Personal Stories and Consequences

• A mother shared her story of losing her son to a fentanyl overdose, highlighting the devastating impact on families (concerned parent)
• A nurse and mother described finding her son and his friend unresponsive after taking fentanyl, emphasizing the rapid onset of the drug's effects (concerned parent)### Opioid Epidemic
• Jay, a young man, was struggling with opioid addiction, which eventually led to his death
• Jay's mother recounts how he was a smart and funny person who made everyone laugh, but started getting bullied and into trouble in his junior year
• Jay's grades started dropping, and he started using opioids, which led to a downward spiral
• Jay's mother was scared and tried to help him, but he didn't want the help, and eventually, she found him dead in his bed

Fentanyl Crisis

• Fentanyl is a major contributor to the opioid epidemic, and its lethality is what frightens many people
• Fentanyl is too good at killing, and it's too accessible, making it a major threat to society
• Parents are often unaware of the extent of the problem and the dangers of fentanyl
• The war on drugs is a never-ending battle, and it requires a collaborative effort to educate people and prevent overdoses

Narcan and Overdose Prevention

• Narcan is a lifesaving tool that can reverse opioid overdoses, and it's essential for families to have it in their homes
• Narcan is a nasal spray that can bring someone out of an opioid overdose if administered in time
• Many families are hesitant to have Narcan in their homes due to the stigma associated with drug addiction
• Educating people about the dangers of fentanyl and the importance of Narcan can help save lives

Personal Stories and Addiction

• A mother recounts her story of struggling with addiction and how it affected her life
• She started taking opioids for pain management and eventually became addicted
• She warns that addiction can happen to anyone and that it's essential to talk about it to raise awareness
• The mother's story highlights the importance of education and awareness in preventing addiction and overdoses

Community Efforts and Solutions

• A district attorney emphasizes the importance of education and collaboration in addressing the opioid crisis
• Law enforcement agencies are working together to combat the crisis, but it's a complex problem that requires a multifaceted approach
• A superintendent of schools is working with schools to educate students about the dangers of fentanyl and opioid addiction
• Community leaders are working together to raise awareness and provide support to families affected by the opioid crisis

Fentanyl: A Growing Epidemic

• Fentanyl has surpassed COVID-19 as the biggest health concern in Fresno County.
• The Fresno Needle Exchange program exchanges approximately 30,000 needles every two hours, highlighting the severity of the opioid problem.

The Rise of Fentanyl

• Fentanyl is an opioid medication commonly used in hospitals to control pain, but it is now being manufactured illegally in labs.
• Fentanyl is 50-100 times more potent than morphine, making it extremely dangerous when used recreationally.
• Fentanyl is often mixed with other substances, such as heroin, or sold as counterfeit pills (e.g., oxycodone, Percocet).

Law Enforcement and Fentanyl

• Fentanyl is a major challenge for law enforcement, with no boundaries in terms of demographics or socioeconomic status.
• Fentanyl is often imported from China or Mexico, with large quantities entering the US through the southern border.
• The drug is often sold online, with buyers unaware of the risks or potency of the substance.

The Impact on Youth

• Young people, often aged 18-35, are particularly vulnerable to fentanyl, with many cases involving high school students.
• Fentanyl is often ordered online, with delivery to homes, making it easily accessible to youth.
• Parents are often unaware of their children's involvement with fentanyl, highlighting the need for greater awareness and education.

Personal Stories and Consequences

• A mother shared her story of losing her son to a fentanyl overdose, highlighting the devastating impact on families.
• A nurse and mother described finding her son and his friend unresponsive after taking fentanyl, emphasizing the rapid onset of the drug's effects.

Opioid Epidemic

• Jay, a young man, struggled with opioid addiction, which eventually led to his death.
• Jay's mother recounts how he started using opioids, which led to a downward spiral.

Fentanyl Crisis

• Fentanyl is a major contributor to the opioid epidemic, and its lethality is what frightens many people.
• Fentanyl is too good at killing, and it's too accessible, making it a major threat to society.

Narcan and Overdose Prevention

• Narcan is a lifesaving tool that can reverse opioid overdoses, and it's essential for families to have it in their homes.
• Narcan is a nasal spray that can bring someone out of an opioid overdose if administered in time.

Personal Stories and Addiction

• A mother recounts her story of struggling with addiction and how it affected her life.
• She started taking opioids for pain management and eventually became addicted.

Community Efforts and Solutions

• A district attorney emphasizes the importance of education and collaboration in addressing the opioid crisis.
• Law enforcement agencies are working together to combat the crisis, but it's a complex problem that requires a multifaceted approach.
• A superintendent of schools is working with schools to educate students about the dangers of fentanyl and opioid addiction.

Fentanyl: A Growing Epidemic

• Fentanyl has surpassed COVID-19 as the biggest health concern in Fresno County.
• The Fresno Needle Exchange program exchanges approximately 30,000 needles every two hours, highlighting the severity of the opioid problem.

The Rise of Fentanyl

• Fentanyl is an opioid medication commonly used in hospitals to control pain, but it is now being manufactured illegally in labs.
• Fentanyl is 50-100 times more potent than morphine, making it extremely dangerous when used recreationally.
• Fentanyl is often mixed with other substances, such as heroin, or sold as counterfeit pills (e.g., oxycodone, Percocet).

Law Enforcement and Fentanyl

• Fentanyl is a major challenge for law enforcement, with no boundaries in terms of demographics or socioeconomic status.
• Fentanyl is often imported from China or Mexico, with large quantities entering the US through the southern border.
• The drug is often sold online, with buyers unaware of the risks or potency of the substance.

The Impact on Youth

• Young people, often aged 18-35, are particularly vulnerable to fentanyl, with many cases involving high school students.
• Fentanyl is often ordered online, with delivery to homes, making it easily accessible to youth.
• Parents are often unaware of their children's involvement with fentanyl, highlighting the need for greater awareness and education.

Personal Stories and Consequences

• A mother shared her story of losing her son to a fentanyl overdose, highlighting the devastating impact on families.
• A nurse and mother described finding her son and his friend unresponsive after taking fentanyl, emphasizing the rapid onset of the drug's effects.

Opioid Epidemic

• Jay, a young man, struggled with opioid addiction, which eventually led to his death.
• Jay's mother recounts how he started using opioids, which led to a downward spiral.

Fentanyl Crisis

• Fentanyl is a major contributor to the opioid epidemic, and its lethality is what frightens many people.
• Fentanyl is too good at killing, and it's too accessible, making it a major threat to society.

Narcan and Overdose Prevention

• Narcan is a lifesaving tool that can reverse opioid overdoses, and it's essential for families to have it in their homes.
• Narcan is a nasal spray that can bring someone out of an opioid overdose if administered in time.

Personal Stories and Addiction

• A mother recounts her story of struggling with addiction and how it affected her life.
• She started taking opioids for pain management and eventually became addicted.

Community Efforts and Solutions

• A district attorney emphasizes the importance of education and collaboration in addressing the opioid crisis.
• Law enforcement agencies are working together to combat the crisis, but it's a complex problem that requires a multifaceted approach.
• A superintendent of schools is working with schools to educate students about the dangers of fentanyl and opioid addiction.