October marks National Substance Use Prevention Month, making it an ideal time to ramp up drug overdose prevention messaging and reach as many communities as possible. Amid the ongoing opioid epidemic, overdose prevention campaigns have become critical in saving lives.

Local drug education and prevention providers in Rhode Island, along with reliable information about opioids, play an important role. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl are the leading cause of drug overdose in the United States. However, there is critical prevention messaging that should reach everyone and be on repeat.

Most people know the opioid epidemic began with overprescribing prescription pain medication like OxyContin. The deceptive marketing of the drug being safe and effective resulted in countless lives lost.

Since the 1990s, the opioid epidemic has gone in waves involving pain medications, a resurgence of heroin, and not illegally manufactured synthetic opioids. In recent years, the crisis has become defined by fentanyl, fueling one of the worst drug problems in the country.

In Rhode Island, fentanyl was involved in 75% of fatal overdoses. In 2022, fatal overdoses in the state remained unchanged from 2021 but decreased during the second half of 2022. 

There is some critical messaging that prevention campaigns can focus on and adapt to reach as many people as possible.

Initially, this begins with knowing that fentanyl can be hidden in drugs. Fentanyl is increasingly found in counterfeit prescription medications. These illegal pills are sold on social media platforms using code words and emojis.

Fentanyl is also found in heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other illicit drugs. It is nearly impossible to tell if drugs have been laced with fentanyl without using fentanyl test strips.

Additionally, mixing drugs will likely always lead to overdose, especially if one of the drugs is laced with fentanyl. Mixing stimulants increases the risk of stroke and heart attack, while mixing opioids with other depressants drastically slows breathing.

Another vital message revolves around Naloxone and its life-saving effects in reversing an opioid overdose. Naloxone is available in all 50 states without a prescription. Good Samaritan laws protect those who are overdosing.

Finally, people in treatment and recovery need support. Showing compassion for drug users and offering support during their treatment and recovery journey reduces stigma.

When communities come together to share campaigns and related resources with people of all ages, they are actively trying to stop drug overdoses and save lives, and this will always be encouraged.

Jody Boulay is a mother of two with a passion for helping others. She currently works as a Community Outreach Coordinator for Addicted.org to help spread awareness of the dangers of drugs and alcohol.