Turning Awareness into Action: National Fentanyl Awareness Day - April 29th
Mark your calendars! Tuesday, April 29th, 2025, is National Fentanyl Awareness Day, a crucial opportunity for our community to unite and take meaningful action to safeguard young lives from the dangers of fentanyl and counterfeit prescription pills.
Now in its fourth year, this nationwide initiative brings together a powerful coalition of corporations, community groups, nonprofits, government agencies, schools, campuses, and families, all dedicated to preventing tragic losses.
While recent data offers a glimmer of hope with some reduction in overdose deaths, the reality remains stark: nearly half of our teens are still unaware that fake prescription pills can contain lethal amounts of fentanyl. This lack of awareness is leading to devastating consequences – young people are losing their lives simply because they didn't know the pill they took was counterfeit and deadly.
That's why the Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition, through our dedicated Opioid Stakeholder Committee, is committed to turning awareness into tangible action. We will be actively providing vital harm reduction resources across our region, including the distribution of Narcan (naloxone), a life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication, and fentanyl test strips, which can help detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs. We will also be sharing crucial literature and information about the significant risks associated with fentanyl.
National Fentanyl Awareness Day is an invaluable chance for everyone to equip themselves with the tools and knowledge that can save lives. Fentanyl has tragically impacted overdose rates within our community, and addressing this epidemic requires a collective effort. We must work together to ensure that substance use does not become a death sentence, especially for our youth and vulnerable community members.
You might be wondering, "How can I get involved?"
Here are several impactful ways you can make a difference:
Spread the Word Online: Amplify vital information by sharing posts and resources on your personal and organizational social media accounts. Help us educate our community about the dangers of fentanyl and where to access harm reduction supplies.
Become an Overdose Response Hero: Attend a local REVIVE! Opioid Overdose Reversal Training. Learn how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and administer naloxone effectively.
Request a REVIVE! or Rapid REVIVE! training for your organization through Region Ten by reaching out to revive@regionten.org.
Stock Up on Life-Saving Supplies: Take advantage of this awareness day to obtain essential harm reduction materials.
Fentanyl Awareness Day Distribution Events
Be an advocate: Get involved with our Opioid Stakeholder Committee.
Meetings occur on every other second Thursday from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
Next meeting: Thursday, June 12th from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM over Zoom.
For more info or to join the committee, reach out to cmhwc@regionten.org.
By working together, we can empower our community with the knowledge and resources needed to prevent fentanyl-related tragedies. Let's make National Fentanyl Awareness Day a catalyst for meaningful change and a step toward a healthier, safer future for everyone!