Preventing Fentanyl Overdose and Death: Harm Reduction Strategies, the Life-Saving Medication Every Parent Should Have, and Organizations to Support

BETTER

In 2021, more than 107,000 individuals died of a drug overdose, 67% of which involved fentanyl, a drug that’s 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What’s even more alarming about fentanyl is that many users are unaware they’re taking it. Most deaths occur when fentanyl is laced in other drugs, like cocaine or heroin, leading to accidental and preventable fatalities. 

In honor of National Fentanyl Awareness Day, Susan B. Noyes, Founder of Make it Better, spoke with a panel of healthcare experts, grieving parents and nonprofits to share advice on what parents should know and how to support organizations committed to preventing fentanyl tragedies.