Community Corner
Deadly Fentanyl-Laced Counterfeit Pills Found in Solano County
Tips to Keep Your Family Safe from Street Pills By VibeSolano & Solano County Public Health
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A lethal wave of fentanyl-related overdoses has reached Solano County, often stemming from street pills marketed as OxyContin®, Adderall® or Xanax®. Many of these black-market medications are, in fact, dangerous counterfeits containing lethal doses of fentanyl.
One in four street pills contain this drug, and nearly half of those contain a high enough dose to kill. That’s because fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. At least 100 Solano County residents—and more than 100,000 Americans—died last year of an overdose and nearly two-thirds of those fatalities were likely due to fentanyl.
“Teens and young adults take street pills thinking they’re Oxycodone, Adderall, Xanax or even an over-the-counter painkiller,” says Robin Cox, MPH, CPH, Solano County’s Health Promotion & Community Wellness (VibeSolano) Bureau Chief. “They don’t realize they’re fakes until it’s too late.”
Fake pills are often sold on social media and e-commerce platforms or in-person from drug dealers who do not care about the damage their products may cause. Sometimes they are made available at schools or are shared between friends who assume they are legitimate medications. In other cases, students are experimenting or are simply treating chronic pain caused by sports injuries or an illness. Or, they borrow a friend’s meds mistakenly thinking it will help them get through a tough time or exams.
“It’s sobering to know that it takes just 2 mg of fentanyl, equal to four grains of sand, to kill a young person,” said David Gao Chan, MPH, who coordinates the county’s opioid prevention efforts. “No one wants to lose a loved one to an overdose, so it’s important to talk to your students about the risk of street pills.”
In the event someone exhibits signs of an overdose, it is important to immediately call 911, administer Naloxone (Narcan®) if nearby, lay the person on their side to prevent choking, and keep them awake if possible until help arrives.
Fentanyl’s initial effects include relaxation, euphoria, pain relief and sedation, but can quickly turn to confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, cold or discolored skin, vomiting, choking, weak breathing, and if not treated immediately, death. Those who are experiencing an overdose often have constricted “pinpoint” pupils and appear limp and non-responsive.
Ultimately, if a pill isn’t prescribed to you, or your kids—and picked up from an approved pharmacy—it’s not safe. Fentanyl kills.
Talk to your kids today and learn more about the dangers of fentanyl and counterfeit prescription drugs at vibesolano.com/be-informed/atod/opioidprevention/.
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