6 out of 10 Fentanyl-Laced Fake Prescription Pills Contain Lethal Doses of Fentanyl

 

Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing this country. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration recently released a public alert waring about a sharp nationwide increase in the lethality of fentanyl-laced fake prescription drugs. The DEA Lab found that, of the fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills analyzed in 2022, 6 out of 10 now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl - an increase from the 4 out of 10 fentanyl-laced pills found to have lethal-sized doses in 2021. 

"More than half of the fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills being trafficked in communities across the country now contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. This marks a dramatic increase in the number of pills that can kill," said Administrator Anne Milgram. "Never take a pill that was not prescribed for you. Never take a pill from a friend. Never take a pill bought on social media. Just one pill is dangerous and one pill can kill."

DEA first issued a public safety alert last year on the widespread drug trafficking of fentanyl-laced prescription pills in American communities. These pills, produced by Mexican drug cartels, look identical to real prescription medications including OxyContin, Percocet, and Xanax - and they are often deadly.

In 2021, the DEA seized more than 20.4 million fake prescription pills. Earlier this year, the DEA conducted a nationwide operational surge to target the trafficking of fentanyl-laced prescription pills. In just over 3 months, 10.2 million fake pills were seized across all 50 states.

The powerful synthetic opioid Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18-45. It is highly addictive - 50 times more potent than heroin - 100 times more potent than morphine. According to the CDC, 107,622 Americans died of drug poisoning in 2021, with 66% of those deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

Just two milligrams of fentanyl, the small amount that fits on the tip of a pencil, is considered to be a potentially deadly dose.

The Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco Cartel in Mexico are responsible for the vast majority of the fentanyl being trafficked in communities across the U.S. In September 2021, DEA launched the One Pill Can Kill enforcement effort and public awareness campaign to combat the fake pill threat and educate the public about the dangers of fentanyl pills disguised and sold as prescription medications. Informative resources are offered by the DEA to help parents and caregivers talk to their kids about the dangers of drug use.      

Visit Get Smart About Drugs