2022 National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day 

 
Today is National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day.  San Diego Coastal Rotary Club is working toward raising community awareness throughout this upcoming week due to the importance of increased awareness and education to prevent further serious injuries and deaths resulting from fentanyl, especially as it is dramatically affecting our youth with high incidences of accidental overdoses.  Please click read more to learn how your club can help through education.
 
Why is this day being created? 
 
For the first time in our nation's history, over 100,000 Americans have died of drug overdose in a single year 2020-2021. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100x more potent than morphine and 50x more potent than heroin. Leading experts report Fentanyl overdoses surpassed suicide, COVID-19, and car accidents as the leading cause of death for the demographic. This is a national emergency. America’s young adults and thousands of unsuspecting people are being poisoned. Fentanyl deaths in America across all age groups doubled from 32,754 fatalities to 64,178 fatalities in just two years between April 2019 and April 2021. Illicit fentanyl is sold as a counterfeit pill, made to look like a prescription medication. Fentanyl deaths occur every 9 minutes or less in the United States. Fentanyl has changed the drug landscape and is a serious danger to the American public. The prevalence of fentanyl is killing and harming sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers. Fentanyl is causing devastation to hundreds of thousands of families. It is important to bring awareness to the dangers of fentanyl to save lives. Tracking of deaths and poisonings has been insufficient, and we believe the available data to be lower than the actuality of this crisis. Illicit fentanyl is devastating every socioeconomic class. If you think illicit fentanyl cannot touch your family, we urge you to think again.
 
Who created this day? 

This day was created by VOICES FOR AWARENESS FOUNDATION in 2022 and the DEA is also recognizing this important day.  https://voicesforawareness.com/
Learn more about the danger of illicit fentanyl at https://facingfentanylnow.org or www.dea.gov/onepill
 
Resources that can be shared include:  
  • Advocacy - Co-founder of Stop the Void, Jaime Puerta, who sadly lost his 16-year-old son to fentanyl, provides many resources and they're working to have legislation to fight the fentanyl problem, as well. https://stopthevoid.org/
  • DEAD ON ARRIVAL (instructional documentary)
    The film, “dead on arrival” (DOA), is a highly charged look at the fentanyl epidemic and its impact on regular people. Dominic Tierno, who wrote, directed, edited, filmed, and narrated it, was inspired to make this film after learning about Alexander and the hundreds of thousands of victims associated with this crisis. DOA was produced as a primer for the fentanyl epidemic. As such, the film provides one of the best looks at the crisis and serves to educate young adults and older.  Here is a free video link on YouTube to save bandwidth and share with others: https://youtu.be/iJgPmrLjkuoRecovering From Mental Health 
  • Problems & Substance Use
    Someone with a mental health problem and substance use disorder must treat both issues. Treatment for both mental health problems and substance use disorders may include rehabilitation, medications, support groups, and talk therapy.  
  • How To Get Mental Health Help
    If you or someone you know has a mental health problem, there are ways to get help. Studies show that most people with mental health problems get better and many recover completely.
    https://www.mentalhealth.gov/get-help