SouthLight has teamed up with Ship Community Outreach to host a series of community discussions on fentanyl, a major player in the drug overdose epidemic. In recent weeks, Ship Outreach tragically lost four of their community members to fentanyl overdose. They asked for help, and decided this topic was too important not to include community leaders, social service agencies, nonprofit partners and faith communities.
Blog
Help Spread the Word About the Illicit Fentanyl Crisis
05/01/2023
The safety and well-being of our community is always of utmost importance, which is why SouthLight is proud to recognize the second annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day (May 9, 2023). We are doing our part to raise public awareness about an urgent problem: people are dying at alarming rates due to illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF), a potent synthetic opioid.
Founded by parents who have lost loved ones to this crisis, National Fentanyl Awareness Day is supported by a coalition of issue-area experts, corporations, nonprofits, schools, families, and elected officials who are coming together today to spread the word. We invite you to take action with us today to help spread the word and save lives.
3 Ways to Raise Awareness About Fentanyl
Know the facts about fentanyl.
Below are 6 key facts you need to know about this crisis. Learn more about fentanyl, key safety tips, and risks at fentanylawarenessday.org.
Illicit fentanyl is being used to make fake prescription pills and is also found in common street drugs like cocaine, MDMA and heroin.
Often consumed unknowingly by users, illicit fentanyl is driving the recent increase in U.S. overdose deaths.
Fake pills have been found in all 50 states. Assume any prescription pill you see online is fake, including Oxy, Percocet, Adderall and Xanax.
Fake pills are the main reason fentanyl-involved deaths are highest and fastest growing amongst youth.
Fentanyl is involved in more American youth deaths than heroin, meth, cocaine, benzos, and RX drugs COMBINED.
Fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, homicide, suicide, and other accidents.
Help spread the word about the dangers of fentanyl!
Talk to your loved ones. Have an open dialogue with your family and friends about the issue. Ask questions about their awareness of fentanyl in fake pills and street drugs and outline steps for how they can protect themselves.
Join the National Fentanyl Awareness Day Speaker Series or our Community Conversation May 16
National Fentanyl Awareness Day is presenting a series of virtual webinars with issue-area experts on an array of topics related to the illicit fentanyl crisis on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
Register to attend a Panel Discussion on the Fentanyl Crisis on May 16. We will cover the basic facts about fentanyl use, how to respond to an opioid overdose, and how to support someone after overdosing. We’ll also answer questions on the “laced and lethal” drugs infiltrating fentanyl. This will be a Q&A-style conversation led by WRAL’s Julian Grace with clinicians from SouthLight’s Opioid Treatment Program and the Raleigh Police Department’s ACORNS unit. In addition, the NC Harm Reduction Coalition will be on hand to provide Naloxone and test strips, and harm reduction information.
Get Help Now
If you or someone you know needs help, contact SouthLight or call 919-787-6131.