The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is alerting the public of a dramatic increase in the lethality of fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills.
“More than half of the fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills being trafficked in communities across the country now contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl,” said administrator Anne Milgram.
The DEA is reporting six out of 10 fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills analyzed in 2022 now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
This is an increase from 2021. Last year, four out of 10 pills contained a potentially lethal dose.
“This marks a dramatic increase in the number of pills that can kill,” said Milgram. “These pills are being mass-produced by the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco Cartel in Mexico.”
According to the DEA, the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco Cartel use chemicals largely sourced from China.
Last year, the DEA issued an alert on the widespread drug trafficking of fentanyl-laced fake prescriptions. These often look identical to real prescription medications, including OxyContin®, Percocet®, and Xanax®, and they are often deadly.
In 2021, the DEA seized more than 20.4 million fake prescription pills. Earlier this year, the DEA conducted a nationwide operational surge to target the trafficking. In just over three months, seized 10.2 million fake pills in all 50 states.
Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing this country. It is a highly addictive synthetic opioid. It is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.
According to the CDC, 107,622 Americans died of drug poisoning in 2021. Approximately 66 percent of those deaths involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
“Never take a pill that wasn’t prescribed directly to you; never take a pill from a friend; never take a pill bought on social media. Just one pill is dangerous and one pill can kill,” said Milgram.
Following several fentanyl-related deaths in Statesboro in 2021, Statesboro Police Captain Jared Akins urged those with family and friends dealing with addiction to check in on them often and contact 911 immediately if they believe an overdose is occurring.
Georgia’s Medical Amnesty Law provides certain protections to individuals calling for medical assistance during a drug overdose.
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