What You Need to Know

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is tasteless, odorless, and extremely potent.

Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin, and 100 times stronger than morphine.

Illicit, counterfeit fentanyl is the leading cause of accidental overdose deaths in Georgia, with 1,379 deaths in 2021 alone. It can be laced into pills and powders, and it only takes two milligrams to cause an overdose, which is equal to a few salt-sized grains.

Risks of Illicit Fentanyl

Illicit Pills and Powders Aren’t Safe

A rapidly growing number of illegal drugs are being cut or laced with fentanyl. It’s 20x cheaper to make, so illegal drug operations are using it to increase the potency of their substances in smaller doses, and generate larger profits.

Laced Pills and Powders

What an Opioid Overdose Looks Like

When someone is experiencing an opioid overdose, including a fentanyl-related overdose, they will be in a sleep-like state and won’t wake up. They will have trouble breathing—their breath might be slowed, or they might not be breathing at all. Gurgling and heavy snoring noises are also indicative of breathing troubles attributed to fentanyl overdoses. Other signs may include increased chest rigidity (otherwise known as wooden chest syndrome) and discolored fingertips and lips from lack of oxygen.

Sharing Your Pills Is Dangerous

How to Act and Save a Life

Call 911. If you find an unresponsive person, call 911 immediately. If you’re worried about calling, the Good Samaritan Law provides protection from criminal liability for those who call for help.

1. Administer Naloxone

If someone nearby has naloxone, administer it immediately.

2. Start Rescue Breathing

Help them breathe with mouth-to-mouth until help arrives.

How to Save Life

3. Stay Until Help Arrives

If they are breathing, monitor it and stay with them until help arrives.

Learn About Life-Saving Naloxone

Why Should You Get Naloxone?

If someone is overdosing, it is critical to act as quickly as possible. It only takes 4-6 minutes before the lack of oxygen causes brain damage or even death.

How Naloxone Stops Overdoses:

Overdoses can slow breathing and heart rate. Naloxone binds to the opioid receptors in the brain to block the effects of an overdose, restoring breathing and oxygen flow.

Naloxone Facts

Who Should Get Naloxone?

Anyone can purchase this life-saving drug from a pharmacist or community-based organization without a prescription. If you or someone you know takes opioids or drugs that could be laced with opioids such as fentanyl, you should carry naloxone in case of an emergency.

How To Get Naloxone