Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) has launched a new website, fightfentanyldc.com, in an effort to combat the devastating effects of fentanyl in Dallas County. The website offers crucial information in both English and Spanish, highlighting the dangers of using this illicit drug. According to DCHHS mortality data, over 150 lives were lost to Fentanyl in Dallas County in 2021.
Dr. Philip Huang, DCHHS Director/Health Authority, expressed concern over the alarming statistics, stating that someone in the U.S. succumbs to fentanyl every 8.5 seconds, with five Texans losing their lives to fentanyl overdoses daily. The primary goal is to raise awareness about the lethal effects of fentanyl and promote strategies to reduce harm and mitigate risks.
Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, poses a significant threat. Its potency leads to faster and harder-to-stop overdoses. Often mixed with other drugs or formed into pills, fentanyl is virtually undetectable as it cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled when combined with other substances.
The newly launched website also provides crucial information on a life-saving antidote to fentanyl overdoses – Naloxone. This nasal spray can halt a fentanyl overdose in just 2-3 minutes and is available over the counter at most local pharmacies.
