Between 2016 and 2023, preliminary data reveals that there have been 3,590 opioid-related overdose fatalities among residents of San Diego County, with approximately 70% of these deaths attributed to fentanyl. Additionally, throughout this period, there have been roughly 10,000 emergency department visits related to opioid overdoses, with an average annual increase of 32%.
With such reporting showing how dangerous fentanyl can be, Goldie Wright, LMFT, program lead therapist at Sharp McDonald Center, says it's essential to understand what the drug is and what you can do if you spend time with someone who uses illicit drugs, especially if they are around children.
Top 5 things to know about fentanyl
An opioid is a type of drug used to treat pain. Prescription opioids are highly regulated and prescribed by doctors to reduce moderate to severe pain. “Fentanyl is a man-made, or synthetic, opioid that is 50 times more powerful than heroin and morphine,” says Wright.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain, especially after surgery and for advanced-stage cancer.
Because it is a synthetic drug, illegal fentanyl is easier and quicker to produce and is usually distributed through illicit drug markets. Drug traffickers often advertise on social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, and on websites targeting illegal activities such as drug trafficking. “You find the drug, make the payment often through online payment apps and the substance is delivered directly to your home,” says Wright.
While drug trafficking on social media platforms affects all age groups, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports that teens and young adults are particularly susceptible due to their high rates of social media usage.
Fentanyl can be taken mistakenly.
Fentanyl is illicitly added to pills incorrectly labeled as common pain, anti-anxiety, ADHD or other prescription medications, including oxycodone, Xanax and Adderall. Additionally, some people unknowingly buy and ingest illegal drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin, laced with fentanyl.
“Any ingestion of fentanyl, accidental or otherwise, can potentially lead to overdose and death, as it does not take much to cause fatality,” says Wright.
Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose.
Naloxone is a medication designed to immediately reverse an opioid overdose in people of all ages, including infants, if administered in time. Naloxone — also known as Narcan — blocks the brain’s opioid receptors and restores normal breathing in people who have overdosed on fentanyl, heroin and prescription painkillers.
"Narcan can save lives,” says Wright. "You can get this all over the county and keep it with you, as anyone can use it to save a life."
In San Diego, you can get naloxone from a pharmacist without a prescription or from community-based distribution programs, local public health groups or local health departments, often at no charge.
If you think someone is overdosing on any substance, including fentanyl:
Call 911.
Administer naloxone.
Try to keep them awake and breathing.
Lay them on their side to prevent choking.
Stay with them until emergency assistance arrives.
Talk with your doctor if you are concerned about your, or a loved one's, opioid or other pharmaceuticals use. Together, you can determine how to access appropriate and effective care.
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