Opioid Risk: What You Should Know

"Friends Don't Share" message: prevention works best when families, providers, first responders and communities act together.

Facts about fentanyl, counterfeit pills, and why prevention works best when the whole community acts together.

• Illicit fentanyl was responsible for 1,379 overdose deaths in 2021.

• Six out of ten fentanyl-laced fake pills contain a potentially lethal dose.

• Counterfeit pills look identical to real medications and are sold on social media and websites, where kids can reach them.

• More than 180,000 Georgians struggle with opioid use disorder.

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Opioid Overdose: How to Respond

Know the signs of an overdose and the five steps that can save a life. Overdose can happen to anyone, including people taking a medication exactly as prescribed. The most common causes of accidental overdoses include extra or accidental doses, mixing opioids with alcohol or sedatives, using someone else's medication, and taking illicit pills that may contain fentanyl.

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The warning signs: blue lips or skin, pinpoint pupils, clammy skin, gurgling sounds, and slow heartbeat or breathing. It also walks through the response: call 911, give naloxone nasal spray if available, keep the person awake and breathing, lay them on their side, and stay until help arrives. To learn how to give naloxone nasal spray, call 404-736-2267 Ext. 1.

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Prescription Responsibility: Ask Your Doctor

Safe use starts with the right questions: Help patients and families talk with their doctor before starting a pain medication. Ask whether it is an opioid, what non-opioid options exist, how to stop it safely, what pain relief to expect, and what to do if treatment isn't working.

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Common opioid prescriptions, including hydrocodone, oxycodone, codeine, morphine, tramadol and methadone, with their brand names. It supports the Lock It Up message of storing medications safely and keeping them away from children and visitors.

Opioid Risk: Fake Pills and Unsafe Substances

Unsafe substances don't always look like street drugs. Counterfeit and unsafe substances can look like candy, vapes, gummies, drinks or ordinary pills. This guide lists commonly faked medications, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, Xanax and Adderall. Warning phrases such as "just THC," "study pills," "a party favor" and "something a friend got."

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Medication should come from a licensed professional, be prescribed to you, and be dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. The simple household rule: if you don't know exactly what it is, where it came from, and whether it was prescribed or approved for you, don't take it.

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Free naloxone training: call 404-736-2267 Ext. 1 or visit nicholscenter.org.

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This project is funded by the DBHDD Office of Prevention Services to support health and wellness in Georgia communities.