Free From Fentanyl Pledge
Take the Pledge
The Fentanyl Free Chiefs project encourages students, parents, and educators to Take the Pledge against fentanyl and to join together in supporting a strong school community that is drug free.
Our goal is to create awareness about the impact of fentanyl, to offer resources that support and educate, and use the strength of our students, parents, and educators to saves lives.
If you or someone you know is actively using drugs or misusing prescription pills, remind them about Fentanyl Free Chiefs and ask them to sign the Free From Fentanyl Pledge. Let’s pledge to end this outbreak together.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid painkiller used for treating severe pain. Unless administered by a medical professional or prescribed and used under the supervision of a doctor, it can be deadly.
Outside of the medical field, fentanyl is illegally made and used in street drugs and fake prescription pills. It is combined with other drugs in random concentrations to make them cheaper, more powerful, and more addictive. This also makes them more dangerous, and these factors put users at risk of an overdose.
Did You Know?
Fentanyl is
stronger than heroin.
Source: dea.gov
Fentanyl is
on the list of biggest killers of 10-24 year-olds in the U.S.
Source: cdc.gov
Fentanyl is
more potent than morphine.
Source: dea.gov
of overdoses in the U.S. are connected to fentanyl.
Source: cdc.gov
Native Americans
have a higher death rate to fentanyl overdose than any other racial group.
Source: cdc.gov
Fentanyl is commonly found in street drugs like meth, cocaine, and heroin, as well as in fake prescription pills that resemble pain relievers (Vicodin®, Percocet®), depressants (Valium®, Xanax®) and stimulants (Adderall®).
Source: dea.gov
pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose.
Source: dea.gov
of fentanyl is all it takes to overdose - that's around 2 grains of salt.
Source: dea.gov
lethal doses of fentanyl was seized by the DEA in 2023 - that's enough to kill every American.
Source: dea.gov
of adolescent overdoses deaths in the U.S. involve counterfeit pills.
Source: cdc.gov
of overdose deaths happened inside a home.
Source: cdc.gov
of overdose deaths happened with a bystander present.
Source: cdc.gov
How can I save a life?
Recognize the Signs
Signs of an overdose include:
- Small, constricted pupils
- Falling asleep or losing consciousness
- Slow, weak, or no breathing
- Choking, snoring, or gurgling sounds
- Faint heartbeat
- Limp body
- Cold and/or clammy skin
- Pale, ashen, blue, or purple skin (especially in lips or nails)
If you suspect an overdose, try to wake the person by calling their name, lightly pinching the person, or by firmly rubbing your knuckles on the sternum (breastbone, or center or the ribcage). Do not slap or forcefully try to wake the individual.
Regardless of whether the person responds, if there are signs of an overdose, call 911 and administer naloxone immediately.
Call 911 Immediately
Tell the dispatcher that “Someone is unresponsive and not breathing.” Give a specific address or a specific description of your location. Answer any questions the dispatcher asks you so they can get the right help to you quickly. Follow any instructions the dispatcher gives you. If appropriate, the dispatcher will instruct you on what to do, including how to give rescue breathing or CPR. Do not hang up until instructed to do so.
Don’t be afraid to call 911 if you witness an overdose. Under Washington’s Good Samaritan Law, if you in good faith help someone who is overdosing, you have general protection from legal action.
Administer Naloxone Immediately
Give one dose of naloxone by nasal spray or by injection. If the person overdosing does not respond within 2-3 minutes after the initial dose, give a second dose of naloxone. If overdose symptoms persist or return and enough naloxone is available, additional doses can be giver every 2-3 minutes until breathing resumes or until emergency assistance arrives.
If the person does not respond to the naloxone or has a reduced response to naloxone, there may be other non-opioid drugs or medical conditions that are affecting them. Continue giving naloxone to treat any overdose effects from opioids. Do not inject the person with any other substance.
Keep Them Awake and Breathing
If the person responds to your efforts to wake them, see if the person can stay awake and breathe on their own. Watch the person and try to keep them awake and breathing. If the person is not responding and they stop breathing, provide rescue breathing and chest compressions. Continue until they start breathing on their own or until emergency assistance arrives.
Lay Them On Their Side
If the person is breathing normally on their own. Roll the person on their side to prevent choking. Adjust the top leg so the leg forms a ninety-degree angle. Adjust the bottom art to form a ninety-degree angle and bend the top arm so the hand rests under the person’s head. Tilt the head back gently to open the airway. This position is known as the recovery position, and it helps keep the person’s airways open.
If the person stops breathing, return the person to their back and start rescue breathing and chest compressions.
Stay With Them Until Help Arrives
While waiting for emergency assistance, monitor the person to make sure they continue breathing normally. Keep the person warm with blankets or dry clothing if available.
What is xylazine?
Xylazine is a non-opioid animal tranquilizer that has been found mixed with fentanyl and other drugs to make drugs cheaper, more powerful, more long-lasting, and more addictive. In addition to its sedative abilities, it can also cause symptoms like skin infections and wounds. This occurs regardless of how it is used. Combined with fentanyl or other synthetic opioids, xylazine can increase the likelihood of a fatal overdose.
Like fentanyl, it doesn’t take much xylazine to overdose. Unlike fentanyl, the symptoms of a xylazine overdose can’t be reversed by naloxone. If an overdosing individual doesn’t respond to naloxone, xylazine may be a factor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is naloxone?
Naloxone is a medication that can reverse the effects of opioids like fentanyl when given in time. It can restore normal breathing within 2-3 minutes in a person who is overdosing and can last for 30-90 minutes, which can give emergency services more time to get to someone who has overdosed. Multiple doses may be needed if fentanyl is involved. While naloxone will not help with non-opioid drugs such as xylazine, it will not harm the person either. You should give the person naloxone if you suspect an overdose.
Does naloxone cure a fentanyl overdose?
While naloxone can help reverse the effects of fentanyl and other opioids, it is only effective for 30-90 minutes. This means that overdose symptoms can return once the naloxone wears off, even if the person revives and seems to feel better. There also could be other drugs or conditions that can be affecting a person during an overdose. Emergency medical workers have the training and equipment to address these conditions and care for the person.
Where can I get naloxone?
Naloxone is available as a nasal spray or as an injectable solution. It is available through many pharmacies and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription. It is also available through Washington’s mail order program.
You can order for mail online or see other options at stopoverdose.org.
What are fentanyl test strips?
Fentanyl test strips are a tool that can reduce the risk of a fentanyl overdose. They typically give results within 5 minutes, which can be the difference between life or death.
While useful, fentanyl test strips are not a fail-safe to avoiding overdose. They may miss fentanyl that could be present due to the random mixing of fentanyl with street drugs or fake pills. They also may not detect drugs that are similar to fentanyl, and they won’t detect other deadly drugs like xylazine.
Where can I find fentanyl test strips?
Fentanyl test strips are available for sale. Some options include DanceSafe.org and Dosetest.com.
Where can I find local treatment and recovery options?
The Tribal Behavioral Health Program is an Indian Health Services contract to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation for the delivery of mental health to Native Peoples and chemical dependency services to Native Peoples of Federally Recognized Tribes.
To find other treatment options in Washington state, visit the Washington Recovery Help Line website.
Where can I find other treatment and recovery options?
The most comprehensive collection of recovery resources is through FindTreatment.gov.
About Fentanyl Free Chiefs
Fentanyl Free Chiefs is a collaboration to raise awareness about fentanyl and its impacts. Fentanyl is mixed into illegal drugs and fake prescription pills and sold anywhere from on the streets to over social media. Students can be at risk because they may not know that these drugs or pills may be laced with fentanyl, putting them at risk of dying from an overdose.
Our goal is to educate and raise awareness about the impacts of fentanyl, provide resources that support and educate, and use the strength of our students, parents, and educators to save lives.
