CANTON - The St. Lawrence County Public Health Department marks August 21st as National

Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day and is raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than

morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), fentanyl is commonly added to other drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Fentanyl laced drugs are extremely dangerous and many people may be unaware that their drugs are mixed with it. You wouldn’t be able to see it, taste it, or smell it. Fentanyl is added to other drugs because of its extreme potency, which makes drugs cheaper,

more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous. NO DRUG IS SAFE.

An overdose can occur anywhere from 20 minutes to two full hours after use of substances. Signs of an

overdose include:

• Face is clammy to touch and has lost color

• Blue lips and fingertips

• Non-responsive to one's name or a firm sternum rub using the knuckles

• Slow or erratic breathing, or no breathing at all

• Deep snoring or a gurgling sound (i.e., what would be described as a "death rattle")

• Heartbeat is slow or has stopped

What do I do if I suspect an overdose?

• Call 911 Immediately. New York State's Good Samaritan Law allows people to call 911

without fear of getting arrested if they have a drug/alcohol overdose or witness someone

overdosing. Don't run—dial 911.

• Administer Narcan, if available. Narcan is a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects

of opioid overdose, including fentanyl. Narcan is available for free.

• Try to keep the person awake and breathing.

• Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.

• Stay with the person until emergency assistance arrives.

Someone doesn't need to have all these signs or symptoms to be overdosing, and exhibiting one or two

could still mean they are in trouble and need emergency help. If you aren't sure, treat it like an

overdose - you could save a life.

Fentanyl test strips (FTS) are a form of drug testing technology that is effective at detecting the

presence of fentanyl in drug samples before use. FTS are a reliable, common-sense means of providing

people at risk of fentanyl exposure with more information to help decrease the risk of overdose.

Narcan can begin to reverse an opioid overdose until EMS arrives. We encourage people who use drugs to take preventative measures, such as having naloxone on hand, not using alone, testing drugs with fentanyl test strips, and calling 911 if they suspect an overdose.

If you need Narcan, Fentanyl test strips or Xylazine test strips, contact

St. Lawrence County Addiction Services at 315-386-2189 or email narcan@stlawco.org

More info: visit mattersnetwork.org/harmreduction/, or

www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/fentanyl/index.html.