Today is National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, with its purpose being to remember and honor the lives lost to overdoses involving fentanyl.
The day is also meant to increase public awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, accidental exposure and how to access life-saving resources, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Miranda Rogers, alcohol and other drug prevention and recovery specialist at Fresno State’s Student Health and Counseling Center (SHCC), notes that fentanyl is present in the community, making it a risk, but proactive harm-reduction strategies help lower danger.
“Fentanyl can be found in many substances, including pills and powders that may appear harmless,” Rogers said. “Its extreme potency means even a few grains can be lethal. Newer, stronger versions are also appearing, increasing the risk of overdose.”
On campus, the SHCC offers various resources such as Naloxone (Narcan) nasal spray and fentanyl test strips. These can be found at the SHCC pharmacy and in the Wellness To-Go Vending Machine, located on the first floor of the Resnick Student Union.
In addition to harm reduction tools, Rogers gave advice on helping others who are struggling with fentanyl use.
“Support starts with a nonjudgmental environment,” she said. “Listening and connecting individuals with trained professionals or peer recovery support reduces isolation, which raises overdose risk.”
The SHCC provides counseling services on campus, such as the Bulldogs for Recovery meetings via Zoom on Tuesdays from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. or Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Fresno State Library Room 1222. The SHCC can also link students to community treatment and recovery programs.
More information about resources and programs provided by the SHCC regarding alcohol and other drugs can be found here.
There has been a decrease in fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Fresno County over the past few years; however, it remains an issue officials will continue to monitor.
“In Fresno County, overdose deaths declined from 114 in 2021 to 94, showing prevention efforts are working,” Rogers said. “Staying informed and prepared remains essential to keeping students and the community safe.”
Despite this, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office (DEA) is continuing its efforts to combat the drug. The DEA’s ongoing Fentanyl Education & Awareness Campaign, which began in 2021, strategically placed over 50 fentanyl awareness billboards in English and Spanish across Fresno County from April to June of this year.
In addition to billboards, Fresno County’s website provides information on fentanyl, ranging from what it is, why it is dangerous and where someone in Fresno County can acquire Naloxone, an FDA-approved drug that reverses the effect of an opioid overdose. These locations include Fresno County’s Department of Public Health and the Community Regional Medical Center in Downtown Fresno.
