Fentanyl-involved deaths are a serious problem in Sacramento County. In 2021, more than 116 people died from fentanyl, either from an opioid overdose or poisoning. In the first four months of 2022, we have already seen 25 more deaths. This is very alarming and so important to be able to inform, educate and raise awareness of this epidemic.
You can learn more by attending a fentanyl awareness virtual town hall taking place at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 25. The event will be
livestreamed on YouTube.
The overwhelming majority of fentanyl deaths are due to counterfeit prescription pills and other drugs in powder form that are laced or replaced with fentanyl. It takes a very small amount of fentanyl to be deadly. Fentanyl is odorless and drugs contaminated with fentanyl are almost impossible to tell from drugs that are not contaminated. According to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s crime laboratory, 98 percent of pills bought on the street or online are counterfeit, and 98 percent of counterfeit pills contain fentanyl.
“Getting the word out to our community about the dangers of fentanyl is the most important thing we can do to save lives,” said Lori Miller, Division Manager within the Department of Health Services.
The Sacramento County Department of Health Services (DHS) and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office are partnering to present this virtual event, which will include general information, a time to ask questions and a demonstration of how to use naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, a nasal spray that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose.
