WCSO 2021 Annual Report - Flipbook - Page 15
DANGERS OF FENTANYL
“ONE PILL CAN KILL”
CAMPAIGN SEEKS TO EDUCATE
In the summer of 2021, The Washington County Sheriff’s Office teamed up with County
partners to educate community members about the dangers of Fentanyl.
According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), “Fentanyl is a
synthetic opioid that is 80–100 times stronger than morphine. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was
developed for pain management treatment of cancer patients, applied in a patch on the
skin. Because of its powerful opioid properties, Fentanyl is also diverted for abuse. Fentanyl is
added to heroin to increase its potency, or be disguised as highly potent heroin. Many users
believe that they are purchasing heroin and actually don’t know that they are purchasing
Fentanyl – which often results in overdose deaths.”
Working closely with County medical, safety, and school partners, WCSO developed
and launched a four-week campaign to share the dangers this drug poses with our local
community through educational fact sheets, media releases, informational videos, and social
media posts.
To learn more about this dangerous drug and educational resources available to the
community, please visit: bit.ly/WCSO_OnePillCanKill.
Combating this growing Fentanyl
threat requires community awareness
and engagement at every level. We can
each commit to checking in with our
loved ones and one another.
Educate youth on the importance of
only taking prescription medication
prescribed by their doctor.
If you have concerns about a loved
one’s drug use, talk with them — share
your concerns.
While these topics aren’t always
easy, one conversation could save
someone’s life.
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