Information and Resources
The presence of highly-lethal fentanyl has been a growing issue in the United States for nearly a decade. Since 2015, the US has seen a dramatic rise in the number of overdose deaths, which has largely been attributed to the practice of cutting various powdered and tablet street drugs with fentanyl becoming more common in the process of manufacturing these substances. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) director, Anne Milgram, described fentanyl as “the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered.” The DEA reports that fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45, and laboratory testing has indicated that 7 out of every 10 pills seized by the DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.

Per the CDC, fentanyl was responsible for nearly 70% of drug overdose deaths in 2022. The prevalence of fentanyl represents a massive risk to public safety, and to the individual health and safety of every member of the community; individuals of all ages, all races, and from all areas across Multnomah County are at risk, and many have already been touched by the impacts of fentanyl.

“Fentanyl is everywhere. From large metropolitan areas to rural America, no community is safe from this poison…We must take every opportunity to spread the word to prevent fentanyl-related overdose death and poisonings from claiming scores of American lives every day.”
– Anne Milgram, DEA Administrator

If you would like to find additional information about the fentanyl crisis or find helpful resources, you can click here to read more.