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Lesson 2.3 of 4

Opioids & Overdose Awareness

What is fentanyl, and how do I recognize and reverse an overdose?

Lesson slides

8 slides Download PDF (1.2 MB)

  1. Slide 1: OPIOIDS & OVERDOSE AWARENESS
  2. Slide 2: MYTH BUSTING MYTH: "Fentanyl is only in heroin. If I'm not using hard drugs, I'm safe." FACT: Fentanyl has been found in counterfeit pills made to look like Xanax, Adderall, Per…
  3. Slide 3: WHY THIS MATTERS Opioid overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. In 2023, over 80,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses, the majority involving…
  4. Slide 4: WHAT ARE OPIOIDS? Opioids bind to receptors in the brain and body to reduce pain, and produce euphoria. Prescription opioids: oxycodone (Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codein…
  5. Slide 5: FENTANYL & THE CONTAMINATION CRISIS Illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) is now found in: Counterfeit Xanax, Adderall, Percocet, Oxycodone Pressed pills from non-pharmacy sourc…
  6. Slide 6: RECOGNIZING AN OVERDOSE Signs of opioid overdose: act immediately: Unresponsive, won't wake up Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing Choking or gurgling sounds ("death rattle") Bl…
  7. Slide 7: Naloxone (Narcan) is a medication that reverses opioid overdose within minutes. Nasal spray: no needles, no training required Available OTC at CVS, Walgreens, most pharmacies Fr…
  8. Slide 8: Fentanyl test strips detect fentanyl in drugs before use. Dissolve a small amount of the substance in water, dip the strip Result in 2-5 minutes Available free at many harm redu…
Read these slides as text
  1. Slide 1. OPIOIDS & OVERDOSE AWARENESS
  2. Slide 2. MYTH BUSTING MYTH: "Fentanyl is only in heroin. If I'm not using hard drugs, I'm safe." FACT: Fentanyl has been found in counterfeit pills made to look like Xanax, Adderall, Percocet, and even in some cannabis products. You cannot see, smell, or taste it.
  3. Slide 3. WHY THIS MATTERS Opioid overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. In 2023, over 80,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses, the majority involving fentanyl. Most of these were not people who considered themselves "drug users." Knowing overdose signs and how to use naloxone can save someone's life.
  4. Slide 4. WHAT ARE OPIOIDS? Opioids bind to receptors in the brain and body to reduce pain, and produce euphoria. Prescription opioids: oxycodone (Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, morphine Illicit opioids: heroin, illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) Synthetic opioids: fentanyl (100x morphine), carfentanil (10,000x morphine) Opioids slow breathing. In overdose: breathing stops. This is what kills.
  5. Slide 5. FENTANYL & THE CONTAMINATION CRISIS Illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) is now found in: Counterfeit Xanax, Adderall, Percocet, Oxycodone Pressed pills from non-pharmacy sources Increasingly in other drugs (cocaine, MDMA) One pill can kill. A lethal dose is 2 milligrams — invisible to the naked eye. There is NO safe way to tell a real pill from a fake without a fentanyl test strip.
  6. Slide 6. RECOGNIZING AN OVERDOSE Signs of opioid overdose: act immediately: Unresponsive, won't wake up Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing Choking or gurgling sounds ("death rattle") Blue or grayish lips, fingertips, or face (cyanosis) Pinpoint (very small) pupils Limp body This is a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately.
  7. Slide 7. Naloxone (Narcan) is a medication that reverses opioid overdose within minutes. Nasal spray: no needles, no training required Available OTC at CVS, Walgreens, most pharmacies Free at many harm reduction centers and health departments It cannot harm someone who hasn't taken opioids Multiple doses may be needed for fentanyl overdose Having Narcan is not enabling drug use. It is preventing death. NALOXONE (NARCAN)
  8. Slide 8. Fentanyl test strips detect fentanyl in drugs before use. Dissolve a small amount of the substance in water, dip the strip Result in 2-5 minutes Available free at many harm reduction organizations Legal in most U.S. states Drug checking is harm reduction, not endorsement. If a test comes back positive: do not use. Period. FENTANYL TEST STRIPS HELP

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