Prescriptions/ Opioids

Fake Pills and Fentanyl

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According to a recent study, 19% of adolescents have either thought about or gone through with misusing a prescription drug. Many teens don’t realize that the only safe pill is one prescribed to them by their doctor. Tens of millions of fake pills are sold online each year that contain fentanyl. Of these fake pills, 7 in 10 contain lethal doses. 

A lethal dose of fentanyl is equivalent to a few grains of salt and can be balanced on the tip of a pencil. Fake pills can look nearly identical to real ones, and because fentanyl is often unevenly distributed, there is no way to test pills to know if they’re safe. This is an extreme danger to any teenager debating about trying pills for their temporary effects. From 2018 to 2022, fentanyl deaths of 15-19-year-olds nearly quadrupled. This means that more teens are seeking out pills, and more fake pills are being made and sold, cut with deadly fillers like fentanyl.  

The only way to stay safe and away from fentanyl is to say no to any pill not prescribed by a physician. Don’t believe online sellers, or even a supposedly “reliable dealer” recommended by a supposed friend. Because there is no way to test pills or verify their source, there is no way to know for sure if a pill contains a lethal dose.

The temporary effects of a pill are not worth risking your life. Opioid overdoses have quick and lethal symptoms that can only be reversed with naloxone, which stops the opioid from cutting respiratory functions. Don’t take the risk of consuming a fake pill laced with fentanyl – your life is worth much more than a pill. It’s worth it to say no. 

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