Bishop Police Department

BISHOP, TEXAS - (News Release) The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) observes National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day today, Wednesday, August 21, 2024. It’s a critical time to talk about the impact of fentanyl on the citizens and in the communities.

According to the CDC, over 107,543 people died from drug poisonings or overdoses last year. A RAND Corporation study revealed that 42% of Americans know someone who has died from a drug-related death. The DEA alone seized more than 80 million fentanyl pills and 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in 2023.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is about 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. It is cheap, widely available, and highly addictive, appearing in various forms including powder and pills. Drug traffickers often mix fentanyl with other substances, leading many victims to unknowingly ingest this dangerous drug. A mere two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and last year, nearly 70% of drug-related deaths involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

Help BPD prevent fentanyl poisoning and its deadly impact by educating yourselves and raising awareness of its dangers.