The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intensified its fight against the threat of synthetic opioids with the launch in October of Fentanyl Free America, a comprehensive enforcement initiative and public awareness campaign aimed at reducing both the supply and demand for the drug.
The effort is meant to protect Americans and their communities from fentanyl’s devastating impact: It claimed nearly 50,000 U.S. lives last year, according to the CDC. As of Dec. 1, the DEA has seized more than 45 million fentanyl pills and more than 9,320 pounds of fentanyl powder, removing an estimated 347 million potentially deadly doses.
The DEA New Jersey Field Division was one of 23 domestic agencies and seven foreign ones that initiated Fentanyl Free America.
“We will continue to focus on reducing the fentanyl supply and raising awareness to the public on the dangers of fentanyl,” said Towanda R. Thorne-James of the DEA. “It is vital for us to continue to educate our youth about these dangers.”
DEA is encouraging everyone from community leaders, clergy, educators, parents, physicians, pharmacists and law enforcement to take an active role in raising awareness of fentanyl dangers through education; preventing fentanyl poisonings by understanding the dangers; and supporting those impacted.
Free resources including posters, radio advertising, billboards, and social media resources are available at dea.gov/fentanylfree.
