On National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day Thursday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody highlighted the deadly risks of fentanyl use. Law enforcement seizures of over 115 million counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl in 2023 underscore the severity of the problem.
Moody’s updated “Fast Facts on Fentanyl” toolkit now includes resources to report online drug dealers.
Read: Massive Fentanyl Bust In Collier County: Enough To Kill Half A Million, Children Found In Drug Den
“We lead the nation in the number of fentanyl interdiction operations; however, this drug is still killing Floridians. On National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, we are warning Floridians to never use illicit drugs—they could contain fentanyl, and it could be the last thing they ever do,” said Moody,
Our Fast Facts on Fentanyl toolkit has important information about the threat of this lethal substance, including new resources for reporting online drug dealers selling counterfeit pills. It is imperative that Floridians know that just one pill laced with fentanyl can kill,” said Moody.
Read: Enough Fentanyl To Kill 3 Million People Seized In Citrus And Pasco County Joint Operation
Key Points:
- Fentanyl’s Lethality: Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid, up to 50 times stronger than heroin. A mere two milligrams can be fatal.
- Prevalence: Fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, increasing the risk of overdose. Counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl are widespread.
- Devastating Impact: Fentanyl was responsible for over 74,000 deaths in the US in 2023. In Florida alone, nearly 8,000 people died from drug overdoses.
- New Toolkit Resources: The updated toolkit provides information on how to report online drug dealers on social media platforms.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the substance killed more than 74,000 Americans in 2023. Although this marks the first ever decrease in deaths due to overdose, the CDC still reports that nearly 8,000 Floridians fell victim to drug overdose deaths in 2023.
The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that 7 out of 10 counterfeit prescription pills seized contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. Counterfeit pills have been identified in all 50 states.
The toolkit now provides information for reporting digital drug dealers on social media platforms. This new feature lists all the most effective options for social media users, or parents of the users, to report drug dealers attempting to sell illicit drugs.
To view the Fast Facts on Fentanyl toolkit, click here.
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