Fentanyl Awareness Day
Taking Action to Save Lives: What Our Community Needs to Know About Fentanyl
As part of our commitment to community health and wellness, we are sharing critical information regarding the fentanyl crisis and the upcoming National Fentanyl Awareness Day. Our goal is to equip families, educators, and neighbors with the knowledge needed to protect our young people from the dangers of fentanyl.
What does a lethal dose of fentanyl look like?
It takes very little fentanyl to make up a lethal dose. Just 2mg, equal to 10 to 15 grains of table salt, is enough to kill someone.
A lethal dose of fentanyl
The Growing Danger of Fake Pills
Illicitly produced fentanyl is often mixed into drugs like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fake prescription pills. These illicit pills are designed to look like legitimate medication but are often made with fentanyl and other dangerous chemicals. Because of this, people may consume it without realizing, increasing the risk of accidental overdose. These pills are frequently sold in accessible locations, including social media platforms where they can easily reach teens and young adults.
According to the Virginia Department of Health, drug overdoses remain a leading cause of preventable death in the Commonwealth. In 2023 alone, there were 2,463 overdose deaths in Virginia, and nearly 80% involved fentanyl or other synthetic opioids. While preliminary data show a recent decline in overdose deaths, fentanyl is still the primary driver of fatal overdoses, and it remains widespread in the drug supply across both rural and urban communities across all backgrounds.
Shockingly, nearly half of U.S. teens are unaware that these counterfeit pills sold online or on the street are often laced with fentanyl. The DEA emphasizes a simple but vital message: “One Pill Can Kill.”
Recognize the Signs
An opioid overdose can happen quickly. When in doubt, treat it as an overdose, as acting fast can save a life.
Warning signs include:
Unresponsiveness or inability to wake up
Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
Choking, gurgling, or snoring sounds
Blue, gray, or pale lips and fingernails
Small, “pinpoint” pupils
Cold or clammy skin
During an overdose, breathing can slow or stop entirely, which can lead to brain damage or death within minutes. If you notice these signs, call 911 immediately and administer Narcan if available.
Resources
We encourage everyone to utilize these free resources available in our community:
Narcan is a life-saving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose within minutes. It should always be used alongside calling 911 and staying with the person until help arrives. Community members can place an order to pick up Narcan at any of our Region Ten locations. Place an order at this link.
On Fentanyl Awareness Day, Tuesday, April 29, 2026, peers will be at these locations and times distributing Narcan:
Charlottesville Region Ten Counseling Center (800 Preston Ave, Charlottesville, VA 22903) 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Albemarle Region Ten Counseling Center (500 Old Lynchburg Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22903) 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Louisa Food Lion (501 E Main St, Louisa, VA 23093) 12 PM – 4 PM
Nellysford Dollar General (2985 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA 22958) 8 AM – 11:30 AM
Green Great Value (8271 Spotswood Trail, Stanardsville, VA 22973) 10 AM – 2 PM
Fluvanna Food Lion (264 Turkeysag Trail A, Palmyra, VA 22963) 12 PM – 4 PM
Louisa Region Ten Counseling Center (206 Elm Ave, Louisa, VA 23093) 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Honoring Those We’ve Lost
The DEA has created a special memorial exhibit called "The Faces of Fentanyl" to commemorate lives lost to poisonings or overdoses. This exhibit can be visited in person at the DEA Headquarters in Arlington, VA, or explored virtually. Families who have lost a loved one are invited to submit a photo to be included in this moving tribute.
Call to Action
By working together, sharing information, starting conversations at home, and participating in awareness events, we can help prevent further tragedies in our community. Other things you can do include:
Carry Narcan. Get free Narcan here
Learn overdose response. Free REVIVE! Trainings can be found here
Talk to young people about fentanyl
Share this information
Take action today. You might just save a life.
Sources:
https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness
https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drug-overdose-data/?utm_source=chatgpt.com