Illicit Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. There are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicit fentanyl. Our work addresses illicit fentanyl. Drug cartels make and supply deadly illicit fentanyl either as a standalone substance, as an additive in other dangerous street drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, or as substitutes for these drugs. Illicit fentanyl is purposely and deceptively added to other drugs because of its extreme potency, making drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous. Illicit fentanyl has also been identified in counterfeit prescription pills. These fake pills are made to look identical to legitimate prescription pills — such as Oxycontin®, Percocet®, Vicodin®, Adderall®, Xanax® and other medicines—and have been found in every state in the country. Criminal drug networks are also harnessing the accessibility of social media to push deadly drugs into American communities.

Read more here and take action with Voices for Awareness Facing Fentanyl.