Initially developed for pain management in cancer patients, illegal non-pharmaceutical fentanyl has found its way into recreational drugs, often without the user’s knowledge. Its high potency increases the risk of overdose, especially for those who are unaware of its presence in in the drug they are using.

In the Chicago region, fentanyl is commonly found in heroin, and in some supplies of cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, MDMA, counterfeit prescription pills (fake Oxycodone, Xanax, and Adderall) and other substances.

Fentanyl kills. Even the smallest amount, equivalent to a few grains of sand, can be deadly. You can’t see, taste or smell fentanyl, so it is nearly impossible to detect on your own. 

Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs that cause overdose deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.