Fentanyl

Past Coalition Community Forum

The Beach Cities Partnership for Youth Coalition and South Bay Families Connected hosted an in-person community forum in February 2023. View a recording of the panel discussion and learn the top five takeaways from the forum here. 

Know the Facts

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a Schedule II prescription drug; drugs in this classification have a high potential for abuse, which may cause severe psychological or physical dependence. It is also a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S., with almost 83,000 people dying from fentanyl overdoses in 2022 (CDC, 2023).

General Facts

Sources: (CDC, 2022aCDC 2022b; NCDAS, 2022b; LACDPH, 2022)

In California

In Los Angeles County  

Unintentional Fentanyl Poisonings

What is Xylazine?

Xylazine is a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer NOT approved for human use that has been linked to an increasing number of overdose deaths nationwide. Also known as “tranq,” xylazine is a central nervous system depressant that increases the risk of life-threatening overdose when taken in combination with other substances like alcohol, benzodiazepines and fentanyl.  

Recent News

What are the signs of an overdose?

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if a person is heavily under the influence or experiencing an overdose. If you’re having a hard time telling the difference, it is best to treat the situation like an overdose – it could save someone’s life.

The following are some symptoms of being under the influence of opioids or benzodiazepines:

The following are signs of an overdose:

What should you do if you suspect someone is overdosing?

Naloxone

Naloxone is a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist—meaning that it binds to opioid receptors and can reverse and block the effects of other opioids. It can very quickly restore normal respiration to a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped as a result of overdosing with heroin or prescription opioid pain medications.

For more information on naloxone and how to obtain this potentially lifesaving medication, please visit the California Department of Public Health’s Opioid Prevention Initiative here

Free overdose prevention kits are available for anyone at allcove Beach Cities (514 N. Prospect Avenue, 4th floor, Redondo Beach, CA 90277). Stop by the front desk during regular business hours to pick up a free kit, which includes two doses of naloxone nasal spray and two fentanyl test strips.

Types of Naloxone:

Naloxone Training Video

Prescription Drugs and Opiods: What Beach Cities Students and Parents Need to Know

Resources:

Learn the facts and find resources to get help.