National Fentanyl Awareness Day— observed on April 29 and now in its fourth year— unites major corporations, community groups, nonprofits, government agencies, schools, campuses and families to take action to protect young lives from deadly fentanyl and fake prescription pills.
James Wagley with the Sabine Prevention Alliance recently made contact and asked us to make the public aware of this day and that Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry had recently issued a proclamation regarding the day of recognition of these issues.
“Fentanyl poisoning is a national crisis devastating families and community across the United States,” the proclamation reads.
It goes on to say that drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl increased by 279 percent from 2016 to 2021, making it the leading cause of overdose fatalities nationwide.
Louisiana has experienced a surge in synthetic opioid deaths, with fentanyl-related fatalities rising over 2,000 percent since 2014. In 2022, the state recorded 2,376 overdose deaths, which is the second highest drug overdose rate in state history.
The Louisiana Office of Behavioral Health and the State Health and Human Services Partnership have distributed 7,624 fentanyl test strips and 21,160 naloxone doses, preventing an estimated 5,112 overdose-related deaths.
More information about the dangers of fentanyl and the day of observance are available at www.fentanylawarenessday. org.